North Texas didn’t have its starting running back for its game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

Not that it mattered.

Even without Cam Montgomery, UNT’s running game thrived with Lance Dunbar, who rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns.

Is there anyone out there who would trade Riley Dodge for ULL’s Chris Masson, perhaps the next best young quarterback in the Sun Belt Conference?

Didn’t think so.

ULL was supposed to have the best offensive line in the league with preseason all-conference selections Brad Bustle and Chris Fisher.

UNT was just as good and maybe better up front Saturday. The Mean Green’s defense that was terrible last season has improved.

If ULL had decidedly better players, it didn’t show in 38-34 final score and certainly not in the final yardage total that saw UNT post 444 yards to 295 for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

The stunner that Marlin Miller capped with a 4-yard touchdown catch to sink the Mean Green in the final minute was just that latest example of what has been the most maddening part of watching UNT stumble and fumble its way to a 1-4 start.

This team’s individual parts are a lot better than the whole that isn’t getting the job done on Saturdays.

Call it the “it factor.”

After five games, it’s clear UNT -- a team that used to be the king of the “it factor” – is lacking the clutch play and ability to pull through that is the characteristic of any winning team.

UNT had Ohio on the ropes before falling in double overtime and was up 10 points on ULL with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter.

UNT always found a way to win those tight games a few years ago like good teams always do.

How else can one explain the “Miracle in the Desert” game in 2001 when UNT beat New Mexico State? What other explanation is there for UNT being able to come from 14 down to win at Middle Tennessee in 2004?

Those teams had more experience and decorated players, even if they might not have been as talented. Riley Dodge is no Scott Hall when it comes to playing in the clutch -- at least not yet.

Dunbar might be on his way to being the next Patrick Cobbs or Jamario Thomas. He isn’t there yet, though.

The difference is clear. Those guys found a way to get it done when it mattered.

Call it youth or inexperience. Blame the improvement in the Sun Belt. Talk about waiting for next year and the next wave of talent coming in with wide receivers William Cole and Tyler Stradford.

It doesn’t matter what one blames UNT’s struggles on. The bottom line is clear -- UNT has issues that go beyond the talent on the field.

UNT just isn’t a clutch team.

Lately, it’s been a mistake-prone group that seems to be at its worst at the worst possible time.

UNT had a kick blocked for a second straight week, had an interception returned for a touchdown and committed three penalties on fourth down that extended ULL touchdown drives.

“It seems like a broken record, but the same things keep getting us beat,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. “Our kids don’t mean to make mistakes in those situations. We have to be more aware.”

One can certainly question an official flagging Kylie Hill for holding on fourth down in the final minutes of the fourth quarter with the game on the line. Todd Dodge said he would have to look at the film before offering up an opinion on the call.

The point is those are the types of mistakes that keep coming back to haunt UNT.

Tobe Nwigwe was called for pass interference on fourth down earlier in the game. K.C. Obi was called for a personal foul face-mask penalty when UNT had a fake punt snuffed out.

UNT has turned the ball over nine times in its last two games. Eight of those turnovers were either Riley Dodge interceptions or fumbles.

UNT has the talent to at least show some signs of progress this season. One can see it in the play of Dunbar, the flashes Riley Dodge has shown and the way UNT has come so close to winning on a couple of occasions this season.

The Mean Green just isn’t making the plays it takes to turn close games into wins.

“Everything was going our way,” UNT defensive end Sam Owusu-Hemeng said of the Mean Green’s loss to ULL. “We just didn’t get the breaks and didn’t do the little things we needed to do to win.”

That’s the difference between talented teams and talented teams that win games.

At this point, it’s pretty clear that UNT is an example of the former and not the latter.

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