In a dramatic Week 7 college football matchup, North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris engineered a comeback, connecting with DT Sheffield for two late touchdown passes to lift the Mean Green to a 41-37 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday night. The win keeps North Texas (5-1, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) atop the AAC standings.
Trailing 37-27 with just 2:38 left in the game, Morris and the North Texas offense took over. Morris guided an efficient eight-play, 75-yard drive, capping it with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Sheffield. The Mean Green defense then made a crucial stand, giving Morris the ball back with 1:43 remaining. On the ensuing drive, a 34-yard run by Shane Porter set up a first-and-goal at the 5-yard line, allowing Morris to find Sheffield for a 3-yard game-winning touchdown pass.
Morris had an impressive outing, completing 27 of 45 passes for 336 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. His favorite target on the night, DT Sheffield, hauled in 11 catches for 126 yards, including the two decisive scores in the final minutes.
The game began with an offensive flurry, as Morris opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Carnes. North Texas quickly built a 14-7 lead after Morris connected with Nick Rempert for a 25-yard touchdown pass to close out the first quarter.
Florida Atlantic (2-4, 0-2 AAC) responded in the second quarter behind quarterback Cam Fancher, who threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Sullivan and a 5-yard strike to Jabari Smith. The Owls also benefited from two field goals by kicker Morgan Suarez, taking a 27-17 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Mean Green began to chip away at the deficit, but the Owls remained in control, leading 34-27 heading into the final quarter. FAU’s Fancher had a standout game, completing 22 of 30 passes for 351 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back CJ Campbell Jr. added 89 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.
However, it was the late-game heroics of Morris and the relentless play of the North Texas offense that turned the tide. With their backs against the wall, the Mean Green executed flawlessly in the final minutes, and Sheffield’s reliable hands made the difference. The win keeps North Texas in contention for the AAC title, while FAU faces an uphill battle in the conference standings.
North Texas will look to build on this thrilling victory as they continue their push in the AAC, while Florida Atlantic will regroup and seek to turn their season around.
