DENTON, Texas — Caleb Hawkins ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 68-yard scoring pass as North Texas beat South Alabama 36-22 on Saturday, giving the Mean Green their first 5-0 start since 1959.
Hawkins had touchdown runs of 6 and 27 yards to go with his long catch-and-run, finishing with 218 all-purpose yards. Drew Mestemaker threw for 234 yards and a touchdown for North Texas (5-0, 1-0 American), which gained 429 total yards and scored touchdowns on three straight possessions spanning the second and third quarters .
South Alabama (1-4, 0-1) opened the game with Bishop Davenport’s 2-yard keeper, but North Texas answered with Miles Coleman’s 18-yard score and never trailed again.