ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS FOOTBALL

November 8, 2025

Andon Thomas

Jake Rendina

Press Conference

Army 14, Temple 13

Q. Andon, it seemed like your defense was kind of bend don't break, tough in the red zone. Really the difference in the game was Temple could not get touchdowns, they got field goals, and it led to a one-point difference. What worked for you on defense in the red zone?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, first of all, credit to the Temple offense. They have a really good offense, really good scheme, really good coaches. Obviously they're all new. Some really good players, so they were able to drive down the field on us a little bit.

But I think it just speaks to our culture. We all trust in the coaches' scheme, trust in the coaches' game plan. We were all able to execute. Obviously they got in the box once, which we don't want to do that again.

But credit to them. They played a great game, and I think we worked on our fundamentals and obviously we trusted the scheme, and it worked out well.

Q. Jake, your offense was consistent but there were a bunch of 3rd downs and 4th downs you were able to convert. What worked today?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, we just played Army football. We just went back to the fundamentals, and I think everyone did their 1/11 when their number was called out there, and we just played pretty good football on 3rd and 4th down.

Q. Their quarterback came into the game with 21 touchdown passes, only one interception. He had a reputation of really ripping the league apart so far. You talked about the coaches' game plan. What was the coaches' game plan to stop them?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, credit to him. He's obviously only thrown one pick this year, I think you said, thrown a lot of touchdowns, so credit to him. But ultimately it just came down to the fundamentals. They hit a couple hole shots against us in the wrong coverage, but I think we tackled well, played with our hands well. The DBs did really well, and credit to those guys up front, too, for getting pressure on him. I think that really helped a lot. So credit to him, but I think it was the fundamentals that helped us a lot.

Q. He wasn't able to throw deep, wasn't even looking to throw deep it seemed. What were you guys doing to prevent that, or was that just him?

ANDON THOMAS: Obviously we don't want to let the deep ones. We want to make them throw the ball short because that's not what they want to do. They want to throw the ball deep. They've shown that all year. So we were kind of forcing them to throw the ball short and rally and tackle, and yeah.

Q. Jake, you took the ball with about 10 minutes left in the game and didn't give it back. You've got to be real happy with the offense and what you guys were doing out there. What was the thinking on the field as you were doing it?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, the credit goes to our O-linemen. They're pretty good up front, and they just do their job. They're some tough sons-of-guns, and they really just got off the ball quick, gave us that line of scrimmage, and I think we just played pretty good Army football.

Q. Jake, for most of the second half, of course Temple held you guys to a one-point lead. Do you think that got your collective adrenaline flowing?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, I think so a little bit. We always want to be ahead, keep the ball in our hands and win football games. So when they were ahead, they could see the adrenaline, the heart, the blood pumping a little bit, and we go out there, play ball.

Q. Jake, can you talk about the opening drive of the second half; you guys get a much-needed touchdown. Again, it's more Army football, but how important was that to get on the board and the get more control of the game?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, momentum is always important in football, and when you've got momentum and you're gaining yards after yards after yards, you just keep that momentum rolling and you keep rolling. That's about it.

Q. Talk about what this win means for you guys. It moves you one game closer to bowl eligibility. What do you think this win means for you?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, obviously it means a lot. Anytime we're able to win at home at Michie Stadium, defend our turf, it really means a lot. Obviously as a senior class, that was our second-to-last game in Michie Stadium ever, so it means a lot being able to protect Michie Stadium and ultimately get this win for the seniors.

Q. Can I ask you one play in particular, the 3rd and 5 at the Army 12-yard line in the third quarter, where you and Cole Searight combined for a one-yard loss that forced them to go for a field goal, which was as important a play in the game as any?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, again, it comes down to Coach Woody calling a great call. We kind of knew what they were going to do just based off like game plan and what they've done historically all season. Coach Woody called a great call, and we just executed.

Q. Andon, talk about Army after the big scoring drive to start the third quarter and then you guys held Temple to a field goal, so it was 14-13 and then Army gets stopped, drive stalls because of a holding penalty basically, and then you guys got a three-and-out deep in Temple territory and gave the offense the ball back with good field position. How important was that three-and-out, and what was kind of the mindset and the discussion on the defense going into that series and throughout that series?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, that three-and-out was really big. I think it was kind of the turning point in the game. Obviously they were pinned deep a little bit and I think they ran the ball once or twice - I can't really remember - but we were able to stop those, and then Collin Matteson, and I don't know who the corner was out there, but they were able to make a great play on 3rd down, force them off the field. Obviously they punt, give the offense great field position, allowed them to do their thing. It was really important. That three-and-out was huge for us.

Q. Jake, whether it was you or Carson back there today, fullback dive really seemed to be working, big gashes, five yards a clip, seven yards a clip. Talk about what was working so effectively there. Was it something the offensive line was doing, a certain way you guys were blocking it? What allowed that play to be so effective all day?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, I think it just comes down to fundamentals. We worked real hard this week on fundamentals in practice, and our O-line, they're real tough up front. They got off the ball quick. We pushed them back a little bit.

Credit to Temple; they've got a great defense, good coaching, good players and all, but it just worked today. It just clicked.

Q. Andon, what does a win like this mean for this team as we head into the final weeks?

ANDON THOMAS: Yeah, it means a lot, obviously. Like I said earlier, being able to defend Michie in our second-to-last home game ever, at least for the senior class. Obviously one more game closer to eligibility. But coming off a hard win last week -- obviously the emotion is going to be there against Air Force, but sometimes it's hard to harness that emotion when you're not playing an academy game. Really proud of the guys for executing, not letting emotion get in the way of executing, and that was kind of our message all week, Coach Monken's message definitely all week. But it means a lot; obviously anytime you win, it's a special feeling.

Q. Jake, we're kind of used to seeing a lot more points in college football. What's it like to play a game like this where it is so close to the vest and every possession is vital?

JAKE RENDINA: Yeah, it's just straight-up fun. It's just fun. It's fun to play football, especially when the adrenaline is pumping. To be honest, it's just pretty fun.

ANDON THOMAS: So true.

Q. Jake, I know you do your job whatever they call on you for, but you only had 10 carries going into today and you had like nine today. Is that difficult, not having the carry reps earlier in the year?

JAKE RENDINA: Not at all. I think whenever I get to go in the game, it's just a great time. You get to go out there with the boys and play ball. Whether the ball is in my hand or in anybody's hand, I'm just happy to play football.