Going to start things a little different than usual and something that is bigger than any outcome on the field.
Instead of ranting about Army’s season-opening, double-overtime loss to an FCS opponent, an heroic moment from Army safety Larry Pickett should be talked about more.
Pickett and his father, Larry Sr., pulling a man and rescuing him from a car fire has made national news, airing on NBC Nightly News Monday.
Putting himself in harm’s way to save another’s life with a live wire down across 9W in Fort Montgomery exemplifies what West Point is teaching cadets.
Now onto Tarleton State, can sum up Army’s defeat like this: Most everything that the Black Knights needed to be successful this season -keeping senior quarterback Dewayne Coleman healthy, winning the turnover battle and receive elite offensive line play – went the opposite way.
Coleman was banged up late in the first half and again with a minute remaining in regulation. Coach Jeff Monken mentioned his postgame press conference that Coleman injured his ankle. Coleman didn’t return in overtime. Monken said Coleman “was hobbled and not a full speed.” While, Cale Hellums, Army’s No. 2 quarterback, was at full speed.
When asked about Coleman’s status for Saturday game at Kansas State during This Week in Army Football Monday, Monken said he anticipated Coleman was going to be ready to play.
“He’s a tough guy,” Monken said.
Army turned the ball over on three straight second-half drives. In 14 games last season, Army had a total of nine turnovers.
Two of Army’s giveaways came on Coleman interceptions. The second one was the turning point of the game. With the Black Knights up 24-17 and running the ball to Tarleton State’s 17, Army decided to take the air on first down over running the football, potentially chewing up more clock and at worst settling for a field goal and two-score lead. Don’t know if Army was trying to take Tarleton State by surprise with pass to tight end Parker Poloskey. Monken said Army had practiced play during the week and that “tendencies” may have lead to call. Coleman didn’t see Tarleton State defensive back Kasyus Kurns underneath the route with 11:49 left in regulation.
Army offensive coordinator Cody Worley often says as the Black Knights “offensive line goes, we go.” It was a struggle for Army’s front five against an aggressive, physical Tarleton State defensive front. Missed assignments. Not blocking to the whistle at points.
Tarleton State essentially was playing its regular-season “Super Bowl” against Army, its only FBS opponent on schedule. The Texans wanted to make a statement and they played like it until the final whistle.
Ten of Army’s 21 first-down plays in the second half and overtime went for 1 yard or less including four negative-yardage runs. Playing “behind the chains” or “off schedule” frequently is not a recipe for success in Army’s offense.
Army sophomore kicker Dawson Jones was put in a multiple pressure spots in his first game as the starter. Jones connected on 2-of-4 field goals. Don’t think kicking toward the Tarleton State affected Jones’ miss on his 43-yard, game-winning attempt at the end of regulation. He came back to make a 40-yard kick in the first overtime to extend the game. Jones needs to make the 35-yard kick in the second overtime. Watched Jones in Army’s three preseason scrimmage and he had a pretty consistent. Think he will bounce back.
The positives: Tre Benson’s punt returns set up Army once in prime field position and should have been twice. Benson had a 32-yard return that sparked Army’s late first-half touchdown drive. He returned a punt 18 yards to Tarleton State’s 34 early in the third quarter but it was called back on a hold.
Pressed into duty, the moment didn’t look too big for Hellums when he took over with Army on Tarleton State 5 in the first half. Two carries later, Hellums celebrated his first career rushing TD. Hellums also drove the Black Knights into field-goal range late in regulation after entering with 57 seconds left.
Kickoff specialist Anderson Britton, who was playing in his first game since tearing his ACL last September, had three touchbacks.
Tarleton knew when to load the box with 11 blitzing defenders and when not to do so. Critical questions: How? Why? Sure, when you turn the ball over 3 times, you don’t usually win. But we could have against Tarleton, with more imaginative/sensible, less stubborn, play calling. Obviously, the QB going down the line and stepping back and throwing a short/medium pass to a tight end or slot back sneaking out into wide open space because of all Tarleton D backs, even the safety, blitzing forward was always a play that was there. But we didn’t do it. I watch Navy games. They always do it.
Norm Remick
September 3, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tarleton knew when to load the box with 11 blitzing defenders and when not to do so. Critical questions: How? Why? Sure, when you turn the ball over 3 times, you don’t usually win. But we could have against Tarleton, with more imaginative/sensible, less stubborn, play calling. Obviously, the QB going down the line and stepping back and throwing a short/medium pass to a tight end or slot back sneaking out into wide open space because of all Tarleton D backs, even the safety, blitzing forward was always a play that was there. But we didn’t do it. I watch Navy games. They always do it.