North Texas Outlasts Memphis 45-42 on Last-Second Field Goal

By Brad Wilson Stateline Gazette Sports

DENTON, Texas — In a game that never slowed down and never settled, North Texas delivered the final blow.

The Mean Green survived a furious fourth-quarter rally and edged Memphis 45–42 on a walk-off field goal as time expired Saturday night, sealing one of the most thrilling games of the Stateline Elite season.

From the opening kickoff the matchup between No. 3 Memphis and No. 4 North Texas lived up to its billing as the game of the week. The offenses traded explosive plays, the coaches pushed every lever available, and the outcome remained undecided until the final snap.

North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker set the tone early, slicing through the Memphis secondary with precision and pace. He threw for 314 yards and six touchdowns, spreading the ball across a deep receiving corps and repeatedly punishing coverage breakdowns.

The Mean Green struck first when Mestemaker found Tre Williams III wide open for a 30-yard touchdown, a sign of things to come. Later in the first half, he connected with Cameron Dorner for a 17-yard score, giving North Texas two passing touchdowns before the midway point of the second quarter.

But the defining moment of the opening frame wasn’t a touchdown.

Facing fourth-and-inches at their own 35-yard line late in the first quarter, North Texas head coach Matt Cummings kept the offense on the field. Mestemaker surged forward on a quarterback sneak, moving the chains and igniting the home crowd.

North Texas built a 28–13 halftime lead and extended it to 35–20 after three quarters, leaning on its tempo and confidence while forcing Memphis to trade touchdowns for field goals.

Memphis refused to fade.

Quarterback Brendon Lewis orchestrated a relentless comeback, completing 33 of 37 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns while adding two more scores on the ground. His calm pocket presence and timely scrambles kept the Tigers alive as the fourth quarter unfolded.

Sutton Smith was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 151 receiving yards while contributing 53 rushing yards. Greg Desrosiers Jr. added a rushing and receiving touchdown, and Memphis poured in 22 fourth-quarter points to erase the deficit and tie the game at 42.

Still, North Texas had one final answer.

With the clock winding down, the Mean Green methodically moved into field-goal range, trusting an offense that had delivered all night. As time expired, the kick sailed through the uprights, sending Denton into celebration and ending a game that felt destined for a dramatic finish.

North Texas finished with 511 total yards, fueled by contributions from Caleb Hawkins (156 all-purpose yards), Quardell Jackson (89 rushing yards), and multiple touchdown receptions from Williams and Dorner. Memphis countered with 500 yards of its own, nearly matching North Texas play for play.

“This is the kind of game that defines a season,” Cummings said. “We played aggressive, trusted our guys, and stayed composed when the pressure was at its highest.”

For Memphis, the loss stung, but the performance reinforced its standing as one of the league’s most dangerous teams.

North Texas walked away with the win — and a reminder to the rest of the Stateline Elite: the Air Raid isn’t just a nickname in Denton. It’s a statement.