Of all the players in North Texas' starting lineup, Montey Stevenson seemed among the least likely to score the touchdown that might help turn around the Mean Green's season.

The senior defensive tackle has spent most of the season clogging up the middle of UNT's line and trying to stuff opponents’ running games.

Stevenson did that and a whole lot more while helping the Mean Green's defensive line come up with by far its most impressive performance of the season in a 31-21 upset of Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday.

Stevenson finished with a team-high 10 tackles, including two for losses, and returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown. He was named the Sun Belt Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Warhawks.

"We are so proud of him," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt's weekly coaches teleconference. "He is very deserving. Our defense played with tremendous energy and passion. … The way they played was what I expect of them. Sometimes you start a season off and it isn’t what you want, but if you stay together, it can turn around."

Stevenson played a key role in helping the Mean Green post its first win of the season with his big play in the second quarter. UNT had punted on its first four possessions before freshman quarterback Giovanni Vizza threw an interception.

Stevenson intercepted a tipped pass on the next play and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. UNT never trailed during the rest of a historic night for the Mean Green and Dodge, who picked up his first win as a college head coach after a rough 0-5 start.

"It feels really good to get the win," Stevenson said. "We had some bad things happen to us. This will help us have a successful season."

The performance of UNT's defensive front will be a key to reaching that goal. The Mean Green came into the night allowing 255 rushing yards a game and could have been in for a long night against ULM and Calvin Dawson, who was leading the Sun Belt with an average of 134 rushing yards a game.

Stevenson played a part in limiting Dawson to 65 yards. The Mean Green had struggled with giving up big plays in the running game, but didn't allow a run of more than 16 yards against ULM.

Stevenson credited the Mean Green's performance up front to the team's defensive line meeting before the game.

"We know it starts up front," Stevenson said. "We had to do more for this team."

Stevenson finished with two of the Mean Green's 12 tackles for loss against the Warhawks. UNT had posted just 18 tackles for loss in its first five games of the season.

Dodge credited the Mean Green's improvement in part to its defensive linemen, who helped UNT turn the tide after struggling in a series of losses earlier in the season. UNT missed 12 tackles in a loss to SMU in its second game of the year.

"Our tackles are playing very well. Joseph Miller was our most productive player two weeks ago," Dodge said of one of UNT's other interior defensive lineman. "We only missed two tackles the whole game. … We played better and the energy was better."

Dodge: Vizza bringing renewed energy

The addition of freshman quarterback Giovanni Vizza to UNT's starting lineup has made a big difference for the Mean Green not only because of his production, but also in the intangibles he brings to the field, Dodge said Monday.

"We would all be naive to say that there hasn't been some renewed energy with Giovanni in the lineup," Dodge said. "When we made the change, it wasn't because of what [Daniel] Meager hasn't done, it's an indication of what Giovanni brings in terms of his running ability and the spark he brings."

Vizza threw for 202 yards, rushed for 66 and threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald while leading the Mean Green to its first win of the season against the Warhawks.

Meager threw for a school-record 601 yards against SMU in UNT's second game of the season, but didn't lead the Mean Green to a win in four starts.

UNT to face team with a vote in AP poll

UNT already knew a game at Troy on Saturday will be one of its biggest challenges in Sun Belt play, but in case it didn't, the release of the Associated Press Top 25 poll this week provided a reminder.

Troy (4-2, 3-0) received one vote in the poll.

"One of our grad assistants called and said we got a vote," said Troy head coach Larry Blakeney. "That's always good. It is what it is. Someone put us in there. We will take any kind of recognition we can get."

Troy tied for the Sun Belt title last season and blasted Rice 41-17 in the New Orleans Bowl. The Trojans lost their first two games this season to Florida and Arkansas, but have been on a roll since.

Troy has won four straight, a streak it started with a 41-23 win over Oklahoma State.

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