Head Coach Kenny Dillingham
On Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson’s connection:
“It's an unbelievable connection right now. Sam (Leavitt) knew they were in cover one on the one scramble. He knew Jordyn got locked up originally on the release so he bought some time and then knew there was a one-on-one in the corner, launched it, gave him a jump ball and great job by him going to get it. That's what J.T. (Tyson) does, he goes and high points the football as good as anybody I've been around. J.T. (Tyson) has two more years, Sam has three more years. That could be an exciting combo here for the future of football.”
On Sam Leavitt’s development thus far and being able to lead a game-winning drive:
“He's a dog, that's it. He’s a great player. The fact that that dude has three years left, every company in the state should be calling him for an NIL deal. Everyone should be throwing cars at him, they should be throwing condos at him, they should be throwing whatever they can throw at him to be excited about the fact that you have an NFL-level player in your state in the flagship school right in the town for three more years. That should be exciting, people should rally behind that. People should be fired up about the opportunity to build around that and I'm just glad he's here. Helps me makes me look good.”
On the non-starters making game-changing plays tonight:
“That's what we talk about, success. Just being the very best you can be all the time, repeat. It's not a win, there's not a loss, there's not this, just be the very best you can be all the time and then repeat. And those two kids, they just try to be the very best they can be all the time and they repeat and repeat and repeat. So when it shows up for them, it's awesome. I gave Montana Warren the game ball because he shows up and works. He'd start for a lot of football teams, we're just good at safety and nickel, but he'd start for a lot of teams. And for him to work and work, and then for a play like that to happen, the team went crazy when I gave him the ball because those are the guys that you should get fired up about, the people that are doing all the things that nobody's really talking about. Then all of a sudden they make a play, him and Laterrence Welch, that changes the game and that's pretty cool.”
On what Kyson Brown can take from this game moving forward:
“Oh, unbelievable amounts. This was so good for him to start and to be the workhorse. He's going to look back at the tape and be like, ‘man, could I slow down here? Was I too excited?’ Just take a breath. He's so fast, so take a breath. Such a good learning experience and there were runs that he did an unbelievable job on. So, I was very proud of him stepping in at that moment. When you come in for somebody like Skattebo, who is in the top 10 for the Heisman race, all eyes are going to be on you. Didn't fumble, didn't mess up a pass pro. Did he overrun a couple runs for his first start, yeah. Do most good running backs overrun a couple of runs, yeah. So kudos to him man, he did everything we asked him to do, proud of him. And like I said, I'm excited about Kyson in the future.”
Defensive Back LT Welch
On the standard set by Coach Dillingham:
“I feel like Coach Dillingham is building something over here, it's a standard. I feel like me and J.T. (Tyson) were about to fight last week in one one-on-ones. It got too heated because we are both competitive. I feel like that right there showed me to hold my composure. You ain't gotta do too much because you got younger people watching. I feel like we are building something, we are doing something special.”
On the improvement from Martell Hughes and Montana Warren’s improvement:
“Martell wasn’t supposed to have that blocked punt. Every week on punt they take their job seriously, that's one thing I can say about him. Montana, he had hit Jake (Smith) during practice and Coach Dillingham flashed on him. But you could see how that reflects on game day. Those guys really want to be here and those guys really love what they do. I'm proud of them.”
On his pick-six:
“I was in man (coverage). My man motioned, I was running with him and as soon as I looked up, I saw the ball. I said, “Ok. Ok.” That's my first-ever pick-six. I'm glad I could do it for the team and put our team in the spot we were in.”
Wide Receiver Jordyn Tyson
On his clutch gene:
“It’s my coaches and Sam's trust in me. They know I'm gonna make a play when my number's called. They continue to do that when the game's on the line and I continue to show up.”
On playing without Skattebo:
“It was definitely different but I miss having my little bowling ball right next to me. We had Sipp (Kyson Brown) step up. I thought he had a pretty good game. It was definitely weird but I think he should be back next week and it should be back to normal.”
On Sam Leavitt’s leading game-winning drive:
“Sam’s just a dog, he's a proven winner. Whenever the game is on the line, whenever we need to play, whenever we need to drive, put it on Sam’s shoulders and he’ll get it done.”
On his personal growth:
“I feel as a player, I think I’ve grown so much mentally. Not letting little stuff make me mad. I went through a lot and my mind was kind of out of it. Just bringing back that mentality back into me and just staying with the good stuff and what I need to focus on, and bringing this every day and just coming in and practicing the work, then just let it all show on game day.”
On Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson’s connection:
“It's an unbelievable connection right now. Sam (Leavitt) knew they were in cover one on the one scramble. He knew Jordyn got locked up originally on the release so he bought some time and then knew there was a one-on-one in the corner, launched it, gave him a jump ball and great job by him going to get it. That's what J.T. (Tyson) does, he goes and high points the football as good as anybody I've been around. J.T. (Tyson) has two more years, Sam has three more years. That could be an exciting combo here for the future of football.”
On Sam Leavitt’s development thus far and being able to lead a game-winning drive:
“He's a dog, that's it. He’s a great player. The fact that that dude has three years left, every company in the state should be calling him for an NIL deal. Everyone should be throwing cars at him, they should be throwing condos at him, they should be throwing whatever they can throw at him to be excited about the fact that you have an NFL-level player in your state in the flagship school right in the town for three more years. That should be exciting, people should rally behind that. People should be fired up about the opportunity to build around that and I'm just glad he's here. Helps me makes me look good.”
On the non-starters making game-changing plays tonight:
“That's what we talk about, success. Just being the very best you can be all the time, repeat. It's not a win, there's not a loss, there's not this, just be the very best you can be all the time and then repeat. And those two kids, they just try to be the very best they can be all the time and they repeat and repeat and repeat. So when it shows up for them, it's awesome. I gave Montana Warren the game ball because he shows up and works. He'd start for a lot of football teams, we're just good at safety and nickel, but he'd start for a lot of teams. And for him to work and work, and then for a play like that to happen, the team went crazy when I gave him the ball because those are the guys that you should get fired up about, the people that are doing all the things that nobody's really talking about. Then all of a sudden they make a play, him and Laterrence Welch, that changes the game and that's pretty cool.”
On what Kyson Brown can take from this game moving forward:
“Oh, unbelievable amounts. This was so good for him to start and to be the workhorse. He's going to look back at the tape and be like, ‘man, could I slow down here? Was I too excited?’ Just take a breath. He's so fast, so take a breath. Such a good learning experience and there were runs that he did an unbelievable job on. So, I was very proud of him stepping in at that moment. When you come in for somebody like Skattebo, who is in the top 10 for the Heisman race, all eyes are going to be on you. Didn't fumble, didn't mess up a pass pro. Did he overrun a couple runs for his first start, yeah. Do most good running backs overrun a couple of runs, yeah. So kudos to him man, he did everything we asked him to do, proud of him. And like I said, I'm excited about Kyson in the future.”
Defensive Back LT Welch
On the standard set by Coach Dillingham:
“I feel like Coach Dillingham is building something over here, it's a standard. I feel like me and J.T. (Tyson) were about to fight last week in one one-on-ones. It got too heated because we are both competitive. I feel like that right there showed me to hold my composure. You ain't gotta do too much because you got younger people watching. I feel like we are building something, we are doing something special.”
On the improvement from Martell Hughes and Montana Warren’s improvement:
“Martell wasn’t supposed to have that blocked punt. Every week on punt they take their job seriously, that's one thing I can say about him. Montana, he had hit Jake (Smith) during practice and Coach Dillingham flashed on him. But you could see how that reflects on game day. Those guys really want to be here and those guys really love what they do. I'm proud of them.”
On his pick-six:
“I was in man (coverage). My man motioned, I was running with him and as soon as I looked up, I saw the ball. I said, “Ok. Ok.” That's my first-ever pick-six. I'm glad I could do it for the team and put our team in the spot we were in.”
Wide Receiver Jordyn Tyson
On his clutch gene:
“It’s my coaches and Sam's trust in me. They know I'm gonna make a play when my number's called. They continue to do that when the game's on the line and I continue to show up.”
On playing without Skattebo:
“It was definitely different but I miss having my little bowling ball right next to me. We had Sipp (Kyson Brown) step up. I thought he had a pretty good game. It was definitely weird but I think he should be back next week and it should be back to normal.”
On Sam Leavitt’s leading game-winning drive:
“Sam’s just a dog, he's a proven winner. Whenever the game is on the line, whenever we need to play, whenever we need to drive, put it on Sam’s shoulders and he’ll get it done.”
On his personal growth:
“I feel as a player, I think I’ve grown so much mentally. Not letting little stuff make me mad. I went through a lot and my mind was kind of out of it. Just bringing back that mentality back into me and just staying with the good stuff and what I need to focus on, and bringing this every day and just coming in and practicing the work, then just let it all show on game day.”