Navy secured a thrilling victory over Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl

Blake Horvath made history for the Navy by setting a record with a stunning 95-yard touchdown run. He later secured a crucial 6-yard touchdown with just 4:34 remaining, helping the Midshipmen rally from an early two-touchdown deficit to defeat Oklahoma 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday. The Sooners (6-7) managed to score a 10-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Jake Roberts with only six seconds left on the clock. They attempted a two-point conversion for the win, but Justin Reed sacked Hawkins, sealing the victory for Navy. “It was a great play that I was able to make,” Reed remarked, giving credit to his teammates. “We just made sure that we stayed composed after they scored that touchdown.” Just two weeks after a commanding victory over Army for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, the Midshipmen (10-3) celebrated their sixth season with 10 wins. Their last 10-win season was in 2019, marking their previous winning year. “It’s the perfect ending,” said second-year Navy head coach Brian Newberry. “Being down 14-0 really symbolizes everything these guys have faced, especially the seniors. It reflects how things began. It looked tough, but they kept fighting.” Horvath's record-setting run tied the game at 14 late in the third quarter, and he then put Navy ahead for the first time with his 6-yard touchdown, following a crucial fourth-and-3 conversion with a 16-yard pass to Eli Heidenrich. “I thought if we score there, it could be the game-changer. And it was,” Newberry noted about the pivotal 12-play, 66-yard drive that consumed 7 and a half minutes.

Horvath carried the ball 18 times, gaining 155 yards, and successfully completed 7 out of 12 passes for 92 yards. Alex Tecza contributed with an 11-yard touchdown run for the Midshipmen. Oklahoma took the lead early with Gavin Sawchuk's 21-yard touchdown during the opening drive, marking a standout moment as he accumulated 37 yards, a notable increase compared to his total of 61 yards in the previous eight games this season. With 5:56 remaining in the first quarter, the score was 14-0 after Hawkins skillfully rolled to the left, reversed direction, and launched a pass to Zion Kearney, who made a spectacular 56-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. “We started off strong, but in the second quarter, I think we got a bit complacent... we weren't as cohesive as a team,” Hawkins reflected. “We managed to regroup after that, but in a game like this, it’s crucial to maintain focus throughout.”

Oklahoma concluded its inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference with a second 6-7 record under coach Brent Venables in three years. The Sooners' roster looked quite different from the regular season, as over two dozen players entered the transfer portal. Additionally, they were missing key players like standout linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman, who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. “It’s clear this wasn’t the season we aimed for, but despite the disappointment, we’ve experienced significant growth,” said Jake Roberts, a tight end from Oklahoma. “We’ve learned how to overcome challenges.” A key takeaway for Oklahoma is that, while they participated in a bowl game for the 26th consecutive year, they had enjoyed 23 straight winning seasons prior to Venables' arrival as head coach. On the other hand, Navy has a perfect record against Oklahoma, having won both encounters, including a 10-0 victory in Norman back in 1965. They also secured their first win against an SEC team since defeating Mississippi 21-0 in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day in 1955.

Up next

Oklahoma kicks off Venables' fourth season at home on August 30, facing off against Illinois State, an FCS team. Venables holds a record of 22 wins and 17 losses. Meanwhile, Navy will welcome back Horvath along with all of its offensive skill position starters for the upcoming season, which also starts on August 30 at home against VMI.