ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS FOOTBALL

August 30, 2024

Noah Short

Donavon Platt

Press Conference

Army 42, Lehigh 7

NOAH SHORT: We schemed it up at halftime. We saw the defense, they were lining up and they made that call for us, and Bryson, he timed it up great. He read the read key perfect and he pitched it at the right time and got some good blocks. Definitely should have scored, but it ended up working on that drive.

Q. On the 4th and goal (indiscernible)?

NOAH SHORT: It's a little misdirection. The other slotback went in tail motion to try to get some movement from the secondary, and Kanye Udoh, he made a great block. He made the sealing block so I could get in the end zone.

Q. (Indiscernible).

DONAVON PLATT: Anytime you go out there and set the tempo, it always feels great. Going out there trying to set the tone for the game is always an honor, especially being here, and you know you want to set the example for the younger guys to look up to.

Q. Your play in the third quarter, 3rd and 6 and you're running towards the far end of the end zone on the left side, tell us about that.

DONAVON PLATT: The quarterback made a mistake. We were in the right defense and I was able to capitalize on it. It was just a great feeling to be able to come down, get my feet in, and I just thank Coach Woody and Coach Dixon for putting me in position to be able to go in there and make that play.

Q. A lot of guys out there (indiscernible) offensively. What does that mean to you?

NOAH SHORT: I think it means a lot. It's a big statement about our program. It's not just one or two guys. Everybody puts in hard work in the off-season, and it showed today. Extremely excited for our team and our season.

DONAVON PLATT: Yeah, strength in numbers. Next-guy-up mentality. Whenever somebody can't go out there and compete, then we always have department and we know that the standard doesn't change no matter what position you are on the depth chart, you go out there and you're expected to do what you need to do to be successful.

Q. With the defense we didn't know what to expect this year (indiscernible).

DONAVON PLATT: Well, we know this is a new team. It's a new feel to the program, and we knew we had something to prove. We know that people are doubting us. We know whatever it may be. We had to go out there and set the tempo, set the tone from the first snap.

Q. (Indiscernible).

DONAVON PLATT: Build the momentum and keep improving, that's the main thing. That's the main thing Coach Monken hits on and continue to try to keep steamrolling and just get better each week.

Q. (Indiscernible).

NOAH SHORT: You know, credit to Coach Worley for putting me in that position in the off-season, Bryson and Dwayne, just working on our pitch phase and just getting the correct depth. It feels great, especially getting in the end zone first game for sure, but it wouldn't have happened without Kanye on that block.

Q. (Indiscernible).

NOAH SHORT: It feels great. Obviously with freshman year and how everything went, special teams, it's like, part of me is itching to get out there, but at the same time, got to make sure I have energy for offense and stuff now. It just feels great to be able to contribute to the team.

Q. Noah, on your big run on the option when you came off the sideline, cut across the field, made a couple guys miss, it looked really good. Did you think you had a shot at beating that last guy?

NOAH SHORT: After watching the film on the iPad, I definitely saw that. That's the route I would have taken, but I saw Booby Law sprinting, so in my head I was like, man, he can pick up this guy and I'll go around him. In the back of my head I should have known the entire defense was coming. Definitely looking back, got to just keep moving. But it worked out.

Q. Donavon, obviously a lot of guys got their first start on defense tonight, nine guys with their first start. You guys rotated in and out a lot of people on defense, got a lot of new players experience. How would you rate the overall performance of the defense? Obviously you had two picks, only gave up seven points. It was kind of classic. Was there anything you think you guys could have done better in terms of stopping the run or the pass?

DONAVON PLATT: Yeah, always. The fact they scored seven points, that's something we don't want to give up any points. We're going to look back at the film and improve on it. Anytime we can build on a performance like this, it's always great.

Q. Donavon, on the pick, what's it like getting a pick right in front of a corps like that?

DONAVON PLATT: It's great. I heard them loud. They were there making their presence felt. Everything came together, and it was just a great feeling, great feeling being able to celebrate with my teammates and just give our offense the ball back, really.

Q. What was the most difficult aspect of that catch, because that was a left-handed grab?

DONAVON PLATT: So I could have done a better job with tucking the ball. I went up with two, caught it with two, and then when I came down I had it with one. That's something of course that we'll improve on. But I think getting my feet in was probably the most difficult part.

Q. You caught it with the left hand only and then you dragged it in and then you hit the ground with your butt and we didn't know if they'd give you the catch or not.

DONAVON PLATT: Yeah, luckily they did. Fortunately they did. We needed that.

Q. Noah, on that long 47-yard run, I thought the most difficult aspect was getting the pitch. That was a rather high pitch. Could you relate what happened as far as getting the play started?

NOAH SHORT: Yeah, we were on the short side of the field so we didn't have too much operating room. We got some key blocks on the edge, and I was able to -- I didn't know if I was going to step out or not, but I didn't hear the ref blow the whistle so I just kept running. It was great.

It could have been lower, I guess, but still good timing.

Q. This is only one game this year, but do you guys feel it's a one-win streak or is it a continuation of last year where now you have five in a row? Do you feel like you're getting on a roll?

DONAVON PLATT: Definitely last year finishing the way we did was great, but it's a new season. We know that's how of the window and we have to build on what we have this year. It's a new team and it's just a new identity we have to build, so we're going to take it one game at a time and keep improving.

Q. Noah, what does winning game 1 mean?

NOAH SHORT: It means a lot. My time here the past two openers with Coastal Carolina and then last year with ULM, it's just different. You definitely want to build some momentum and just have some confidence to know that what we're doing worked, and especially coming out of the off-season, the hard work pays off. I think it's huge for us.