Mean Green Machine: North Texas Outruns Tulane 38-21

By Michael Blouse, The Stateline Gazette

DENTON, Texas — North Texas made sure there was no mystery about control Sunday morning.

The Mean Green scored twice in the opening quarter, dominated the line of scrimmage for four quarters and pulled away from Tulane for a 38–21 victory that was more lopsided than the final score suggested.

North Texas finished with 484 total yards, leaning heavily on a punishing ground game that produced 272 rushing yards and kept Tulane off balance from the opening drive. The Mean Green never trailed and steadily widened the gap after taking a 17–6 lead into halftime.

“We wanted to dictate the game,” North Texas head coach Matt Cummings said. “When we run the football with intent and stay on schedule, we like our chances against anyone.”

Caleb Hawkins set the tone early and never let it slip. The junior running back carried the ball 17 times for 202 yards and a touchdown, repeatedly breaking through the second level and flipping field position with explosive runs. His longest carries came in critical moments, halting any chance of Tulane momentum.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker complemented the run game with an efficient, mistake-free performance. He completed 13 of 19 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, added 46 rushing yards, and scored twice on the ground. Tulane struggled to defend play-action once Hawkins began to wear down the front seven.

“We stayed patient,” Mestemaker said. “Once the run game got going, everything opened up for us.”

Wyatt Young was the primary beneficiary through the air, catching six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. North Texas spread the ball across the formation, forcing Tulane’s linebackers into difficult coverage decisions and keeping pressure on the secondary throughout the afternoon.

Tulane moved the ball but couldn’t protect it.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 362 yards on 27-of-36 passing, but four interceptions proved costly, several coming in North Texas territory. Each turnover allowed the Mean Green to reset the tempo and drain valuable possessions.

“We didn’t protect the football,” Tulane head coach Evan Wilkins said. “You can’t give a team like that extra chances and expect to survive.”

Wide receivers Shazz Preston and Bryce Bohanon provided flashes for Tulane. Preston finished with 113 yards and a touchdown, while Bohanon added 110 yards on the day. But the Green Wave never established a consistent run game, finishing with just 93 rushing yards and becoming increasingly one-dimensional as the game wore on.

Tulane briefly cut the deficit to 31–21 late in the third quarter, but North Texas answered with another methodical scoring drive. A fourth-quarter touchdown restored a comfortable margin and effectively ended any comeback hopes.

By the final minutes, the result was academic. North Texas had controlled the trenches, won the turnover battle 4–0, and dictated the pace from start to finish.

For the Mean Green, the performance reinforced their identity as one of the league’s most complete teams. For Tulane, it was a clear reminder that yardage alone isn’t enough without execution and ball security.

As the sun climbed over Denton, North Texas walked off the field with a 38–21 win that reflected total control from the opening snap to the final whistle.