ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS FOOTBALL

September 20, 2025

Casey Larkin

Dewayne Coleman

Press Conference

North Texas 45, Army 38 (OT)

Q. I'm sure you're disappointed but it was a nice comeback.

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir. Our team is coming together. We know what we have to fix. We're going to watch film, get back to it tomorrow and get prepared for ECU on Thursday.

CASEY LARKIN: Those type of games are heartbreaks going either way, losing like that. We've got to look ourselves in the mirror, come with humility next week. We've got five weeks to prepare for ECU, so move on to the next, fix what we did this game, and look ahead to the rest of the season.

Q. Coach always talks about turnovers being the key to a game, key to a season. What do you think happened early on?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: We have to make sure we implement them in the game and be consistent with them all around and we're going to get better on the offensive side of the ball protecting the ball and give ourselves a chance to win.

Q. What were they doing right?

CASEY LARKIN: Yeah, we just converted on the money downs, like 3rd and 4th down. It's just all about finishing drives. When we get them in those vulnerable positions in 3rd and 4th down we have to get off the field and we've got to take the ball away.

That's a part of our job as a defense, take the ball away, give it back to our offense, control the clock. We've got to fix it, get more turnovers.

Q. It seems like North Texas was able to move pretty consistently on offense. They were throwing the ball a lot, especially early, got the first touchdown in the game. What made them tough to stop early in the game?

CASEY LARKIN: I think they had a script coming into it. It really was just us. We had a plan, was really just us. I mean, kudos to them. They're a great football team, a lot of talent. But it comes down to our fundamentals, communication, and just finishing drives.

Like I said before, we have to get them off the field on 3rd and 4th down.

Q. Dewayne, what was it like when you realized you were going into the game today?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Me, Zach Mundell, and Cale Hellums each and every week to be prepared to go in the game. Trusting Coach Worely and the offensive line and my skills and protect the ball and everyone is prepared to do their job and the goal to go out there and win, and we did not do that, so we have to be better next week.

Q. You got a 17-yard touchdown pass, beautiful throw. Tell us about that if you would.

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir. Coach Worley called an amazing play. The mob did their job as usual protecting me and Samari did a great job, 1/11th, caught the ball in the end zone and we gave ourselves a chance.

Q. You had a five-yard touchdown on a 75-yard drive, 17 plays to make it 28-31. Tell us what it took to get a 17-play drive completed.

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir. Following behind the mob and trusting what Coach Worley calls is essential for our success, and everyone did their job. Hayden Reed made a great block, and following behind those guys is pretty easy when you have those guys up there.

Q. At the very end North Texas fumbles, you get the ball back, you go back in, what do you think?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, one play at a time, just like every other down, and protect the ball, give ourselves a chance to win.

Q. Austin Jones got you into overtime. What was it like to be in overtime after being down 21-0?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, I'm very proud of the play of Dawson Jones and the entire union. They did a great job lead by Coach Saturnio and they are always prepared and ready to go.

Q. You went down late; are you okay?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, I am okay.

Q. Dewayne, talk about the effort it took to get back into this game. At the end of regulation you guys were driving down and I think the Brady pass was just inches from being a tipped pass. Talk about how you played this game until the end and never quit in this game?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, our brotherhood harps on finishing and being the tougher team. It's part of our plan. I felt like everyone went out there and did that today. I'm very proud of our team's effort. Just have to be better at our assignments to be able to win games.

Q. Once you guys got to overtime did you think maybe you had the momentum going your way?

CASEY LARKIN: 100 percent. I think just talking about Steven Nnadozie coming in for Colin, making an awesome play, and then the offense going down and capitalizing on it, we've just got to finish. That's really it. We had the momentum 100 percent, but it's just finishing it, and like you said, the play could have went either way.

But I think for the future, it gives us a good place to be at because we are going to finish our season.

Q. I know it was a tough loss for you. How do you deal with something like that?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, go back to the fundamentals, listen to Coach Monken and Coach Worely and have some humility about it, it watch the film, come together as a team, and be prepared for next week.

Q. How do you hope to improve on your performance for next week?

CASEY LARKIN: Yeah, just watch film, harp on the fundamentals, so we can pick things apart and jump on balls and make plays and have one step ahead of the other team.

Q. Casey, I know the Army defense prides itself on fundamentals like tackling and stopping the run, and today you guys really struggled in both those areas, especially in the first half. Was there anything North Texas was doing or was it just a lack of focus? I know you guys focus really hard on the fundamentals, so what do you think was the challenge today?

CASEY LARKIN: I mean, North Texas ran hard, but it comes down to us. I know Kansas State we tackled really well and that wasn't the case this week. We've just got to be consistent. Consistency is the biggest thing on a defense. So we've got to come in week in and week out and all fly to the ball, all 11 to the ball and wrap up.

Q. Dewayne, really key pass there on the touchdown to Brady Anderson to get Army to 35 before the game-tying field goal there at the end, the 4th down pass to Brady that went for the touchdown. Can you walk us through that play and what you saw there?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, I was protected by the mob just like every other play. They do a great job up front. Brady Anderson made a great catch and even better run after the catch and I'm very proud of him for doing that. We just have to finish the game.

Q. Dewayne, how challenging is it to come back from a it 21-0 deficit?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, one team just takes it one play at a time. We all trust in each other, our coaches, and just one-play-at-a-time mentality and protect the ball and give ourselves a chance by focusing on the fundamentals and being sound in our assignments.

Q. Casey, Mestemaker had a very solid first half. What did you do differently in the second half that kind of kept them in more check?

CASEY LARKIN: Yeah, just hiding coverages and making them guess a little bit more, and also putting more pressure on them and keeping our guys in the box.

I know they were running it a lot and they knew we were going to try to play their pass game because it's really strong, and in the first half they were running it.

So we made the adjustment to get more guys in the box. Then they made plays the second half. We've just got to do it on both halves. We've got to have a complete game, not just one half.

Q. Casey, I know they're both losses, but can you take any positives out of taking two teams to overtime and coming up just short?

CASEY LARKIN: Yeah, definitely. I think in the spot we are right now, these are winnable games. We have two overtime losses and we could be 3-0 right now, so I think we would be an awesome team and I think we have an awesome team. Everybody plays their hardest every single week in and week out, so I think we're in a great spot. We've just got to finish.

Q. Dewayne, what's the challenge of a short week?

DEWAYNE COLEMAN: Yes, sir, just focusing on fundamentals. We trust in Coach Monken's plan to get us right, and we are going to back and watch the film tomorrow and be prepared for North Carolina.