Riley Dodge has enjoyed some monster offensive games during his decorated career, both at Southlake Carroll and North Texas.

The same could be said for Lance Dunbar.

The pair just couldn’t seem to get anything going on Saturday night during the Mean Green’s 33-6 thrashing at the hands of Sun Belt Conference rival Louisiana-Monroe at Fouts Field.

Dodge tossed three interceptions and was sacked three times, while Dunbar rushed for just 40 yards, snapping his streak of 100-yard games at five.

“They did a nice job of executing what they want to do,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge. “When it comes down to it, we didn’t make enough plays in the passing game. We had some inaccurate passes and had some drops. You have to be on point against a team like that, and we weren’t.”

ULM came into the game leading the Sun Belt in rushing defense with an average of 99.4 rushing yards a game and had allowed just 74.5 yards a game on the ground in Sun Belt play.

The Mean Green appeared as if it would offer ULM a stiff test after coming into the night leading the Sun Belt with an average of 197.9 rushing yards a game.

The matchup that looked as if it would be the key to the game going into the night was won in decisive fashion by ULM. The Mean Green tried to get its running game going against the Warhawks, but averaged just 2.8 yards a carry on its way to 79 yards on the night.

UNT was forced to go to the passing game and had to abandon the balanced style that had been successful at times and saw ULM take advantage. Warhawks safety Greg James sat back in the middle of the field and intercepted three passes while pushing his record for career interceptions by a Sun Belt defensive back to 16.

James’ total is also the tops for an active player in college football.

ULM was also able to take advantage of UNT playing from behind by coming after Riley Dodge. The Mean Green was ranked fifth nationally with an average of 0.6 sacks allowed a game and had given up just five sacks on the year.

ULM sacked Riley Dodge three times and pressured him throughout the night.

UNT never found a way to take advantage of the blitzes ULM used. Riley Dodge’s longest pass play covered 28 yards and he averaged just 9.0 yards a completion.

“It was us,” Riley Dodge said. “They are a good defense, but we killed ourselves tonight.”

The mistakes UNT made were especially costly on a night ULM’s front seven dominated.

“We didn’t get the push that we had been getting,” Todd Dodge said. “They are a smaller front, but they get off blocks. Hats off to them. They executed their defense better than we executed our offense.”

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