Dec. 27—FORT WORTH — With seconds remaining and a decision to be made, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables made no hesitation — he wanted to go for the win.
“We made that decision earlier in the drive,” he said. “Liked our look, liked our opportunities there.”
The Sooners (6-7) lined up for a two-point conversion attempt, but would be stopped by Navy (10-3) in the game’s final moments as the Midshipmen held on for the 21-20 win Friday at the 2024 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Texas Christian University.
“We got exactly what we thought we were going to get,” Venables said. “And we’ve worked hard in that situation all year long…we knew if (the game) was under 30 seconds, we were going to go for two.”
And Navy head coach Brian Newberry agreed with the Sooners’ offensive call.
“They had momentum right there and struggled after scoring 14,” Newberry said. “I thought that was the right decision, I think I would have done the same thing.”
The Sooners struck first in their opening drive, using the legs of Michael Hawkins and Gavin Sawchuk to power for 45 of the 65-yard march — with Sawchuk barreling into the end zone for the 21-yard score.
“Gavin (Sawchuk) started off really hot and did well early.” Venables said. “We played all four backs, and they all touched the ball.”
After a defensive stop, Oklahoma took back over possession. With Hawkins scrambling and changing directions on a broken play, he connected with Zion Kearney with a dime for the 56-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
“He was really good, great rhythm early and late,” Venables said of Hawkins, who finished the day with 247 passing yards and 61 rushing yards.
The Midshipmen defense held strong on a fourth-down stop deep into its own territory to take over possession early in the second quarter, but the Sooners returned the favor to force a Navy punt — with the Midshipmen pinning OU on its own eight-yard line.
Sooners rolled to midfield, but it’d be Navy with another fourth-down stand to take back over on the OU 45. The Midshipmen capitalized on the opportunity, with Alex Tecza punching it in and putting Navy on the board and leading to a 14-7 OU lead at the half.
“We just came out pretty strong. Second quarter we got a little relaxed and didn’t take what they gave us,” Hawkins said. “We weren’t together as a team. Going into a game like this, you have to be together.”
After a defensive start for most of the third quarter, it’d be Navy’s Blake Horvath breaking things open — faking out the defense for the longest run in school history at 95 yards to tie up the game.
Horvath, who finished the day with 155 rushing yards, said he was just as surprised as anyone else that he pulled off the feat.
“Plenty of guys faster than me,” he joked. “But it wouldn’t be the longest without Brant Chatman and the offensive line.”
The Midshipmen weren’t done yet, forcing a fumble and recovery at the Sooner 26. But a missed Navy field goal attempt gave Oklahoma the ball once more on their own 21. The Sooners would take the drive into the fourth quarter, but a 52-yard field goal attempt went right of the posts to keep the game even with 12:06 to play.
Navy burned up the clock as it churned down the field, with Horvath capping off a 66-yard drive with a six-yard rushing score to give the Midshipmen their first lead of the game with 4:34 remaining.
The Sooners wasted no time in working their way down the field. It’d be Hawkins throwing a dart to Jake Roberts in the right corner of the end zone with six seconds left. OU opted to go for the win with its two-point conversion try — but the Midshipmen defense held on to seal the victory.
Venables said he took full responsibility for not only the game, but the roller coaster of a season as a whole.
“Everything falls on me. When we’re dropping it and not converting fourth down, giving up explosive runs, everything falls at my feet,” he said. “Really disappointed in myself. I need to be a lot better. We went 6-7 and we did a lot of things right, but we have to be a lot better.”
But despite everything, he also expressed immense pride in his team’s fight and how they represented their school.
“I am hurt for the players because I know they’ve worked hard. Its easy to take shots at the coaches, but everyone is disappointed,” Venables said. “I am not embarrassed of the fight, commitment and the work that these guys have represented. We have to be better. This is a game of performance and work, and we fell short of that this year.”
And as tight end Jake Roberts said, adrenaline and emotion flashing across his face, he’s proud of the work put in by he and his teammates — and excited for the future of Oklahoma football.
“Obviously it’s not the year we wanted to have. Obviously a lot of disappointment but a ton of growth. Learn how to come back to work when you don’t want to,” he said. “Although it’s disappointing, not going to say I would change anything. I’m excited to see what Team 131 does. You take the adversity, you learn from it and move on.”
