SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 31, 2013
North Texas 40, Idaho 6: Derek Thompson threw for a career-high 349 yards as the Mean Green flew by the visiting Vandals in both teams' season opener.
Thompson finished 23-of-27 with an 85-yard touchdown pass to Brelan Chancellor and a 30-yarder to Darius Terrell. Brandin Byrd added a pair of first-half rushing touchdowns for the Mean Green, who opened at home for the first time in 12 years.
Chancellor finished with six catches for 135 yards. North Texas forced three fumbles and scored 40 straight points after the Vandals' opening-drive score.
Idaho quarterback Chad Chalich hit his first nine attempts, including a 55-yard pass to Michael LaGrone to set up a 10-yard scoring pass to Jake Manley, but finished 19-of-27 for 230 yards. Chalich fumbled on back-to-back drives in the second quarter, the second leading to Byrd's 27-yard touchdown run.
Thompson had a long pass to set up Reggie Pegram's first career touchdown in the third quarter before capping the night with strike to Terrell. Thompson went 6-for-6 on his final drive, converting two third downs through the air.