North Texas Works a Lot of Overtime
North Texas was the only Division I-A team that had never played an overtime game, but the Mean Green made up for lost time Saturday by defeating Florida International, 25-22, in an NCAA-record-tying seven overtimes.
Denis Hopovac connected on the game-winning field goal from 34 yards out after he and Florida International counterpart Dustin Rivest each missed four field-goal tries in overtime.
Hopovac tied an NCAA record with nine field-goal attempts. He made five.
The NCAA instituted the overtime rule in 1996. On Sept. 23, Navy lost an overtime game, leaving North Texas as the only Division I-A school that had never played past regulation.
The other two seven-overtime games involved Arkansas -- against Mississippi in 2001 and Kentucky in 2003.
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-- Peter Yoon
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