DENTON, Texas – Western has seen the worst this season — a 63-7 loss at Tennessee in September and last week’s 62-24 beating at Middle Tennessee State — but Head Coach David Elson said Saturday’s track meet-turned-stall-out against North Texas hurt the most.

The Toppers entered the fourth quarter tied with the Mean Green at 49 but failed to score in the game’s final 15 minutes, going on to lose 68-49. According to Elson, the mood in the locker room was down compared to losses of the past.

“That’s probably the most upset that I’ve seen them,” Elson said. “They’re just pulling their hair out because they’re so frustrated.”

Western went blow for blow with North Texas, but the floodgates opened in the fourth quarter when Topper offensive drives ended with an interception, turnover on downs and a safety.

Sophomore defensive back Mark Santoro put full blame for Western’s fourth-quarter meltdown on the defense.

“It hurts more because when your offense goes out there and has a game like they did and throw up 49, you think you’re going to get a victory,” Santoro said. “You never go into a game thinking they’re going to move the ball on you at will, and it just hurts.”

The Mean Green offense racked up 583 total yards and matched a school record for points scored in a game. That North Texas was able to score so easily didn’t bother Elson so much as the consistent bad luck his team falls upon, he said.

Elson said each of the five times the score was tied during the game, he would tell the team it was zero to zero — to prepare to play for as many minutes as they had to. But according to Elson, the momentum ran out before the players’ effort did.

“You get things going, you get a lead and you get some confidence and some momentum, and then we just didn’t do the thing that’s you’ve got to do,” Elson said. “It’s just unbelievably frustrating, and those guys are out there battling — they’re playing their hearts out, and we’re just not getting it done.”

Twice in the first half Western had a two-possession lead, and both times it vanished thanks to the defensive breakdowns.

The Toppers broke out to a 28-14 lead with 10:11 left in the second quarter, but the Mean Green stormed back with a 12-play, 57-yard touchdown drive.

Then Western answered with a scoring drive of their own, pushing the advantage to 14 again with less than a minute to go in the first half. But North Texas matched with only seconds to spare on one of freshman quarterback Riley Dodge’s three rushing touchdowns. Dodge added four more touchdowns through the air.

According to senior receiver Jake Gaebler, the Toppers can only finish what they’ve started.

“This one is extremely tough — probably the toughest one of the season,” Gaebler said. “We need to continue to work…keep our heads up, stay positive and keep fighting.”