OU football collapses against Navy in Armed Forces Bowl loss after hot start

FORT WORTH, Texas – The start couldn’t have been better for OU.

But then everything collapsed.

The Sooners went scoreless on eight straight drives before a late touchdown and were then stopped by a two-point conversion as OU fell 21-20 to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Friday.

After Michael Hawkins Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jake Roberts got the score within one point with six seconds left, coach Brent Venables opted for a two-point conversion.

But Hawkins couldn’t find an open receiver and took a sack to nearly end the game.

The Sooners (6-7) finish with a losing record for the second time in three seasons under Venables.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:

More:Navy football coach Brian Newberry has a “pretty good” bond with the Oklahoma father and son

Michael Hawkins Jr. starts hot, fades but gives OU a chance

After forcing a Navy punt in the final two minutes, the Sooners offense had one last chance.

The Sooners drove 65 yards for the score as Hawkins went 8 for 11, capping the drive by finding Roberts in the corner of the end zone.

It would be a big surprise if John Mateer wasn’t the Sooners’ starting quarterback next season after transferring from Washington State.

But Hawkins has said he welcomes competition for the spot.

Hawkins completed his first three passes and finished with a season-high 247 yards, 28 of 43.

Shortly after Navy tied it on Horvath’s long run, Hawkins made his biggest mistake of the game, losing a fumble on first down at the OU 26.

It was the Sooners’ 15th fumble of the season.

After the OU defense held strong, it looked like Hawkins made up for the mistake with what appeared to be a 56-yard touchdown run.

But Sooners guard Febechi Nwaiwu was cited for holding near the line of scrimmage, which wiped out the score, and the drive ultimately ended with a missed 52-yard field goal by Zach Schmit.

Hawkins finished the game with 61 yards on 17 carries.

More:OU football transfer portal tracker: Sooners get Western Carolina QB Cole Gonzales

Blake Horvath hurts Sooners

For most of the first three quarters, OU’s defense held up well against Navy’s triple option.

But then Blake Horvath was eliminated.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, OU punter Luke Elzinga pinned the Midshipmen inside their own five.

After a 1-yard gain on the first play of the drive, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath broke right through OU’s defensive front and ran 95 yards for the touchdown.

Woodi Washington nearly brought down Horvath and was initially credited with the tackle at the OU 1, but after a review, Horvath was credited with the touchdown instead.

The run was the longest offensive play against the Sooners since Texas’ Major Applewhite’s 97-yard pass to Wayne McGarity in 1998.

It was the fourth-longest play given up by OU’s defense in its history.

Horvath’s run also set both a Navy and Armed Forces Bowl record for longest run.

Horvath finished the game with 155 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and was 7 of 12 for 92 yards through the air.

More:How Ben Arbuckle brings “that energy” to OU football during Armed Forces Bowl prep

Deion Burks goes out again

Wide receiver Deion Burks announced earlier this month that he would be returning to Norman for another season.

However, although Burks said shortly after his announcement that he wanted to attend the bowl game, he instead wore street clothes for the game.

Burks’ absence and a number of transfers left OU without a non-freshman scholarship player.

That left plenty of opportunity for freshmen scholarship players Ivan Carreon, Zion Kearney and Zion Ragins.

Kearney caught a 56-yard touchdown pass on the Sooners’ second drive of the game for his first career touchdown.

However, towards the end of the first half, Kearney got another golden chance when Michael Hawkins Jr. kept the game alive with his feet before sending a long pass to the open Kearney.

The ball was slightly underplayed, although Kearney still had an excellent chance to make a long pass to put the Sooners into Navy territory.

But Kearney failed to pull the ball in and the ball fell to the turf, leaving Kearney lying there and banging his hands on the ground a few times.

Carreon led the Sooners with seven catches for 72 yards, while walk-on Jacob Jordan had five catches for 27 yards, Ragins had four catches for 20 yards and Kearney finished with two catches for 66 yards.

More:Brent Venables excited about QB John Mateer’s move to OU football: ‘He’ll make us better’

Gavin Sawchuk gets a run

After starting the first three games of the season, running back Gavin Sawchuk was largely a secondary threat.

Sawchuk finished the regular season with just 26 carries for 61 yards.

His longest carry was just eight yards.

But with Jovantae Barnes out for the fourth straight game, Sawchuk got his first start since Sept. 14.

Sawchuk quickly took advantage, with a 9-yard gain on his second run of the game, and three plays later he broke the line of scrimmage, cut outside to evade a Navy defender, and then ran 21 yards for his first run touchdown of the season.

Sawchuk finished the season with a season-high 13 carries for 67 yards and five catches for 11 yards.

More:What college football bowl games are today? Busy schedule, Oklahomans in the bowls

Luke Elzinga stays perfectly through the air

OU punter Luke Elzinga is a former high school quarterback.

Elzinga had another chance to show off his throwing skills Friday when he completed a 28-yard fake punt to Woodi Washington in the second quarter.

Elzinga completed all three passes this season and finished his college career 4 for 4 through the air.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Leave a Reply Cancel reply