DENTON, TX (KNTU) Not many teams can say they win games after being outgained in total yardage 444-295. That’s exactly what the Cajuns went through in their 38-34 win over the North Texas Mean Green.

North Texas took on a Louisiana-Lafayette team who defeated Big 12 opponent Kansas State 17-15 earlier in the season, but they struggled against LSU losing 31-3 before being annihilated 55-0 against another Big 12 team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Mean Green have now lost four straight games since opening up the season with a win against Ball State, but have not returned to opening form in the succeeding four games.

The two teams looked almost identical on paper heading into the game, but North Texas dominated on the offensive side of the ball for nearly the entire game. Lance Dunbar was the story of the game for the Mean Green, who ran the ball 32 times for 187 yards, filling in for the injured Cam Montgomery. Riley Dodge also ran 11 times for 48 yards for North Texas.

Jeremy Knott put the first points on the board in the game, nailing a 41-yard field goal to put North Texas up 3-0. Lafayette took the lead after intercepting a Riley Dodge pass and returning it 70 yards for a touchdown.

The second quarter combined for a total of 38 points, with North Texas scoring 21 points while the Cajuns managed to tack on 17 points. Dunbar scored three of his four touchdown rushes on the game in the second quarter on two one-yard scampers, and an impressive 37-yard sprint.

North Texas jumped out to a 34-24 lead in the third quarter after being tied at halftime, getting a 27-yard field goal from Jeremy Knott, and a touchdown from Dunbar yet again, this time with his third one-yard TD run of the game.

But Brad McGuire had a one-yard TD run early in the final frame and the game winning touchdown pass with 27 seconds left to secure the comeback win for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

North Texas held the ball for over 35 minutes in the game, while Lafayette was in control of the ball for just under 25 minutes. Overall, the Mean Green ran for a combined 235 yards and threw for 209 yards. The big falter for the Mean Green, however, was Dodge’s three interceptions. The Lafayette quarterback combination of Chris Masson and Brad McGuire combined for zero interceptions.

The Mean Green are now 1-4 on the year and come home to play their Homecoming game against Florida Atlantic. Kickoff for that game is slated for 6:00 P.M.