FORT WORTH, Texas — The start couldn’t have been better for OU.
But then, things crumbled.
The Sooners came up scoreless on eight consecutive drives before a late touchdown, then were stopped on a two-point conversion as OU fell to Navy 21-20 in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
After pulling within one on Michael Hawkins Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jake Roberts with six seconds left, coach Brent Venables elected to go for a two-point conversion.
But Hawkins couldn’t find a receiver open, and took a sack to all but end the game.
The Sooners (6-7) finish with a losing record for the second time in three seasons under Venables.
“Obviously, everything falls on me,” Venables said. “We’re dropping it, not converting fourth down, missing field goals. … Everything falls at my feet. Really disappointed in myself. I need to be a lot better.”
Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ loss:
More:Can Brent Venables right the ship after second losing season as OU football coach?
Michael Hawkins Jr. starts hot, fades, but gives OU a chance
After forcing a Navy punt inside the last two minutes, the Sooners’ offense had one final 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 major upset if John Mateer is not the Sooners’ starting quarterback next season after transferring from Washington State.
But Hawkins has said he embraced competition for the spot.
Hawkins completed his first three passes and finished with a season-high 247 yards, going 28 of 43.
Just after Navy tied it on Horvath’s long run, Hawkins made his biggest mistake of the game, losing a fumble at the OU 26 on first down.
It was the Sooners’ 15th lost fumble of the season.
After the OU defense held strong, Hawkins looked like he’d made up for the miscue for an apparent 56-yard touchdown run.
But Sooners’ guard Febechi Nwaiwu was flagged for holding near the line of scrimmage, negating the score and the drive eventually ended with Zach Schmit’s missed 52-yard field goal.
Hawkins finished with 61 yards on 17 carries.
More:Zac Alley addresses rumors linking OU football defensive coordinator to West Virginia job
Blake Horvath hurts Sooners
For much of the first three quarters, OU’s defense mostly held up well against Navy’s triple option.
But then Blake Horvath busted out.
With five minutes left in the third quarter, OU punter Luke Elzinga pinned the Midshipmen inside their own 5.
After a 1-yard gain on the first play of the drive, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath broke straight through the OU defensive front and ran 95 yards for the touchdown.
Woodi Washington nearly brought Horvath down, and was initially credited with the tackle at the OU 1, but after a review, Horvath was instead awarded the touchdown.
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 OU’s defense has given up in its history.
Horvath’s run also set both a Navy and Armed Forces Bowl record for longest run.
Horvath finished with 155 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and was 7 of 12 for 92 yards through the air.
More:R Mason Thomas still weighing decision to return to OU football team in 2025
Deion Burks out again
Wide receiver Deion Burks announced earlier this month he would return for another season in Norman.
But though Burks said shortly after his announcement that he hoped to play in the bowl game, he was instead dressed in street clothes for the game.
Burks’ absence and a slew of transfers left OU without a non-freshman scholarship receiver.
That left plenty of opportunity for freshmen scholarship wide receivers 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.
Late in the first half, though, Kearney got another golden opportunity when Michael Hawkins Jr. kept the play alive with his feet before lofting a long pass toward an open Kearney.
The ball was slightly underthrown, though Kearney still had an excellent chance to haul in what would’ve been a long pass to put the Sooners in Navy territory.
But Kearney couldn’t pull it in, and the ball fell to the turf as Kearney remained down, pounding the ground a couple times with his hands.
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:Navy coach Brian Newberry relishes bowl win vs OU with former Westmoore coaches, teammates
Gavin Sawchuk gets some run
After starting the first three games of the season, Gavin Sawchuk had mostly been an afterthought at running back.
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 consecutive game, Sawchuk picked up his first start since Sept. 14.
Sawchuk quickly took advantage, with a 9-yard gain on his second carry of the game and then three plays later, broke through the line of scrimmage, made a cut toward the outside to avoid a Navy defender and then ran 21 yards for his first touchdown of the season.
Sawchuk finished with a season-high 13 carries for 67 yards and had five catches for 11 yards.
More:OU football suffers ‘humiliating’ Armed Forces Bowl loss to Navy: Social media reacts
Luke Elzinga stays perfect through the air
OU punter Luke Elzinga is a former high school quarterback.
Elzinga got yet another chance to show off his throwing ability Friday, hitting Woodi Washington for a 28-yard completion on a fake punt in the second quarter.
Elzinga completed all three of his passes this season and finishes his collegiate career 4 for 4 through the air.
The completion was Washington’s first career reception and was the second-longest passing play completed by the Sooners in the game.
OU came up empty on the possession, though, turning the ball over on downs.
