North Texas tops UNLV 36-14 in Heart of Dallas Bowl

1/1/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Heart-of-Dallas-Bowl-Football

    UNLV wide receiver Devante Davis (81) breaks away from North Texas defensive back Kenny Buyers as linebacker Will Wright, on right, watches during the first half of the Heart of Dallas NCAA college football game, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson (7) looks down field as UNLV defensive lineman Parker Holloway (90) and defensive lineman Tyler Gaston (99) apply pressure during the first half of the Heart of Dallas Bowl in Dallas.
    North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson (7) looks down field as UNLV defensive lineman Parker Holloway (90) and defensive lineman Tyler Gaston (99) apply pressure during the first half of the Heart of Dallas Bowl in Dallas.

    DALLAS — Derek Thompson threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, Brelan Chancellor scored twice and North Texas dominated the second half today to beat UNLV 36-14 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. This was the Mean Green’s first postseason appearance in nine years.

    Both of Chancellor’s touchdown runs came in the fourth quarter after he keyed the go-ahead scoring drive in the third with some nifty footwork on a first-down catch. He had 121 yards combined rushing and receiving.

    North Texas (9-4) pulled away from a 7-7 halftime tie for its first bowl win since New Orleans in 2002. The Rebels lost in the postseason for the first time in the school’s fourth bowl game and first since 2000.

    UNLV (7-6) drove 95 yards for a touchdown on its opening possession but didn’t score again until the Mean Green were up 28-7 in the fourth quarter.