North Texas survives late Florida Atlantic surge to extend winning streak
Tayven Jackson threw for 404 yards while Jahiem White rushed for 193 as the Mean Green held off the Owls 48-41 in a high-scoring American Conference matchup.
By Dylan Moore ·
North Texas preserved a 48-41 lead over Florida Atlantic on Thursday night in Denton, Texas, securing its fifth consecutive victory. The result improved the Mean Green to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the American Conference. Florida Atlantic fell to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Quarterback Tayven Jackson accounted for the bulk of North Texas' offensive production. He completed 33 of 46 pass attempts for 404 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Jahiem White contributed on the ground, rushing for 193 yards and two scores on 26 carries. The dual threat kept the Mean Green in control despite a persistent Florida Atlantic offensive effort.
Florida Atlantic quarterback Caden Veltkamp matched Jackson's volume with 452 passing yards and five touchdowns. Veltkamp completed 37 of 56 passes. Wide receiver Easton Messer had a standout performance, setting a school record with 16 receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns. The Owls trailed for much of the game but closed the gap in the final minutes.
The teams traded leads early. Branden Hoch caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp to give Florida Atlantic a 10-3 lead after the first quarter. Baron Tipton caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to tie the game at 10. Veltkamp then connected with Messer for a 27-yard score to restore the Owls' lead at 17-10.
North Texas regained the advantage in the second half. Kyle Koch caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jackson, and White followed with a 59-yard rushing touchdown to make it 24-17. Veltkamp tied the game at 24 with a 12-yard pass to Messer with 39 seconds left in the first half. After a Florida Atlantic turnover, Justin Stevenson caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to extend the North Texas lead to 34-24.
White added a 20-yard rushing touchdown to push the lead to 41-31 before the fourth quarter. Veltkamp narrowed the margin to 41-38 with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Messer with 8 minutes and 26 seconds remaining. Jackson responded with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Koch to settle the final margin at 48-41.
The contest marked the first FBS game this season with two quarterbacks passing for more than 400 yards. The teams combined for 1,167 total offensive yards. Florida Atlantic hosts UTSA on Nov. 5, while North Texas hosts Rice on Nov. 7.
Source: MySA
