Even in the worst of times this season, North Texas could always count on its offense to provide a bit of a spark in the form of a big play or two.

DRC/David Minton

North Texas running back Lance Dunbar is brought down by Louisiana-Monroe linebacker Cardia Jackson on Saturday at Fouts Field.

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Mike Outlaw caught a 32-yard pass from Nathan Tune in a loss to national powerhouse Alabama, while Lance Dunbar posted a 69-yard touchdown run in a loss to three-time defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy.

For the first time in a long time, that steady flow of big plays offensively came to a stop Saturday in the Mean Green’s 33-6 loss to Louisiana-Monroe. UNT’s streak of having scored a touchdown in all 19 Sun Belt Conference games during the Todd Dodge era ended at the same time.

Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt’s weekly coaches’ teleconference the fact that UNT failed to score on a day it wasn’t very explosive offensively was more than a coincidence. UNT defines explosive plays as passes that cover at least 30 yards or runs that got for 20 yards or more.

“We kept them in check at times, but the explosives made the difference,” Dodge said. “They had five or six and we didn’t have them to get us down there to score some points.”

The Mean Green will look to bring the big play back to its offense Saturday when it takes on Florida International in Miami.

UNT moved the ball at times against ULM, but stalled on all three of its trips inside the Warhawks 20-yard line. UNT settled for two field goals and failed to convert on fourth-and-goal from the 7-yard line when quarterback Riley Dodge was sacked late in the fourth quarter.

Dodge took some of the blame for UNT failing to convert in the red zone after the game when he said he made some bad play calls in key situations.

UNT posted at least two explosive plays on offense in each of its games this season other than a loss to Ohio in Week 2, when the Mean Green also went without what it considers a big play offensively. Riley Dodge missed part of that game with a separated shoulder.

ULM’s success was tied directly to holding running back Lance Dunbar in check. Perhaps the Mean Green’s biggest big-play threat finished with 48 yards of total offense. His long plays of the day were an 8-yard reception and a 7-yard run.

Dunbar came into the game on a roll. He scored on a 71-yard touchdown run in a win over Western Kentucky last week and also had a touchdown run of 69 yards and a touchdown reception of 60 yards in a loss to Troy two weeks ago.

“Our guys played with good technique and paid attention to their gaps,” ULM head coach Charlie Weatherbie said of how the Warhawks were able to contain Dunbar. “They played tenacious football.”

ULM had a much more explosive offense in its game against UNT. Warhawks quarterback Trey Revell connected with LaGregory Sapp for a 52-yard pass and hit Darrell McNeal for another 38-yard completion.

Frank Goodin and Luther Ambrose posted carries that covered 25 and 24 yards, respectively.

Sapp torched UNT’s secondary for 187 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. ULM had nearly as many passing yards to Sapp as UNT had passing yards on the night. The Mean Green finished with 189 yards through the air.

“Sapp is one of our go-to guys,” Weatherbie said. “We feel like we need to get him the ball whenever we can.”

UNT awaiting word on Sanitago

UNT was still awaiting word Monday from the Sun Belt Conference on any sanctions that might be handed down following a scuffle that resulted in the ejection of starting right tackle Esteban Santiago in the Mean Green’s loss to ULM.

Santiago was involved in an altercation with ULM defensive back Darius Prelow, who was also ejected.

A Sun Belt Conference official said the league would not issue a statement or comment on the ejection, but would inform both schools of any action it will take after reviewing film of the incident.

Santiago has started every game this season for UNT and has started 31 games in his career, a total that is tied with senior cornerback Antoine Bush for most among Mean Green players.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com .