Texas Southern @ North Texas

Scouting Report for Texas Southern Tigers (1-0) vs. North Texas Mean Green(0-1)
September 8, 2012- Apogee Stadium, Denton, TX

Texas Southern: The Tigers of the SWAC last game against the Prairie View A&M Panthers (44-41 victory) at Reliant Stadium in Houston was one for the books. Texas Southern overcame a 20-7 1st quarter deficit by outscoring PVAMU 31-14 in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. And the 4th quarter shootout could've went to overtime when Panther QB Jerry Locklove ran the game tying TD from 5 yards with 1:16 remaining. But the Tigers answered with some well executed plays after a short kickoff. Ben Hersh hit the game winning 47 YD FG and gave 1st year head coach Darrell Asberry his first victory.

Besides Hersh (3/4 FG's), Texas Southern had some great contributions. QB Riko Smalls did well in the air and on the ground. He was the leading passer with 222 yards 1 TD and 2 INTs on 9/18 passing and the leading rusher (101 YDS on 11 carries). LeTevin Wilcox returned a fumble for 33 yard touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Edward Perkins-Long (18 carries, 88 YDS)had 2 rushing touchdowns to jump start the Tigers in the 3rd quarter. Daniel McKayhan returned 3 kickoffs for 114 yards.

North Texas: Good news, bad news. The bad news was that the Mean Green allowed 41 points to another SEC team (Alabama 41-0 last season). The good news was that they scored two touchdowns and avoided even worse humiliation than anticipated. Still, a 27 point blowout is nothing to write home about. However, given LSU being in a tougher conference, the passing game did quite well with the Bayou Bengals. The running game was what ultimately hurt North Texas (316 yards allowed, 76 yards gained).

If there is any silver lining, the Mean Green did have some bright spots. QB Derek Thompson didn't have the game of his life, but he did have more touchdowns than interceptions (2:1). Thompson also (9-21 passing) threw for 143 yards. 114 yards of that were to the game's leading receiver WR Brelan Chancellor (4 catches) who also had North Texas' only TD's of the game (1st for 80 yards and the 2nd for 15). DB Hilbert Jackson had 9 tackles and did get a sack.

What to watch for: This is the second time that a Houston area team will open the season at Apogee Stadium (Houston won 48-23). If North Texas is going to have success, the ground game will have to improve if they are to return to .500.

For Texas Southern, they're going to need to play a flawless game against a Mean Green team who is motivated to win. Especially against a team like the Tigers. Just because they are the defending SWAC champions going against a Sun Belt team, it doesn't mean that this contest will be close. More importantly whose going to be the best QB, Smalls or Dantavious Parker (5-13, 65 YDS 1 TD)?

Conclusion: This may look like a game that North Texas should win with both hands tied behind their back. But if Texas Southern can exploit the Mean Green's inexperienced secondary, this game will be a whole lot closer than anyone expected.

Given the fact that Texas Southern won at a bigger venue to start the season, PVAMU isn't exactly a football powerhouse. North Texas should have an easier time with this version of the Tigers than they did with the more powerful version that they faced at LSU.

Prediction: North Texas by 31.

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