Week 7: Louisiana-Lafayette at North Texas

Louisiana-Lafayette has bulldozed opposing defenses of late, and UNT is next on the docket. ULL has averaged more than 635 yards of total offense in the last three games. In its conference-opening win over rival Louisiana-Monroe last week, ULL rushed for 556 yards and gained 728 total yards. The Ragin’ Cajuns now tout college football’s top rushing offense at 331 yards per game, and running back Tyrell Fenroy is the nation’s No. 3 rusher after racking up a career-high 297 yards last week. Meanwhile, quarterback Michael Desormeaux has added a solid passing game to his exceptional running ability. Needless to say, there’s little ULL’s offense hasn’t done lately.

North Texas is on the opposite end of momentum. The Mean Green were trounced 42-10 at home by Florida International, who has a 3-26 record in the last three seasons (including two wins over UNT). The Mean Green fans are growing restless, and another blowout at home will only rile them up more as coach Todd Dodge labors through his second season.

UNT has few directions to turn. Its defense is the worst in college football for a second straight year, allowing an FBS-high 52 points per game. Its offense, which showed some production in a four-wide spread style last season, has floundered to the nation’s 118th-ranked scoring offense at 13 points per outing.

Unless Fenroy is shut down, ULL could deliver a more potent sting to the UNT faithful. Fenroy needs only 30 rushing yards to become the Sun Belt’s all-time leading rusher, surpassing beloved former UNT running back Patrick Cobbs in the conference record book.

Notes:

UNT wideout Sam Dibrell, the team’s second leading receiver, quit the team last week. Dibrell had 24 catches for 233 yards in four games this season.

UNT coach Todd Dodge has a 2-15 record in two seasons, the worst mark of any Sun Belt coach.

ULL’s schedule gives it a chance to bolster its record, as a three-game homestand follows this trip to UNT.

ULL quarterback Michael Desormeaux has moved to No. 1 in total offense in the Sun Belt. He has 585 rushing yards and 859 passing yards.

Key Player (Ragin’ Cajuns) — Tyrell Fenroy, RB

The nation’s active career rushing leader has run for at least 180 yards in three straight games. Another such performance will steamroll UNT.

Key Player (Mean Green) — Giovanni Vizza, QB

Vizza, the 2007 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year, was among UNT’s only consistent offensive players, but he has tossed six interceptions in the last two games. If Vizza struggles, UNT has no chance.

ULL by 28