Texas State dominate Rice Owls in Armed Forces Bowl

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 3, 2026) On Friday, January 2, 2026, the Texas State Bobcats overwhelmed the Rice Owls in the 23rd annual Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The Bobcats, representing the Sun Belt Conference, secured a convincing 41-10 victory over their in-state rivals from Conference USA.

The Armed Forces Bowl, one of the marquee postseason games concluding the 2025 FBS season, blends college football with patriotic celebrations honoring U.S. military service members. Sponsored by aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin, the bowl showcases not only athletic competition but also flyovers, parachute demonstrations and tributes to all six branches of the armed forces.

Texas State entered the game with a 6-6 record after closing the regular season with a three-game winning streak. Under head coach G.J. Kinne, the Bobcats’ balanced offense and opportunistic defense set the tone early, building a lead that Rice could not recover from. Rice, which finished the year 5-7 and only received a bowl invitation after other eligible teams declined, struggled to find offensive traction against a disciplined Bobcats unit.

Despite the lopsided score, the event had its share of dramatic moments off the field. One of the pregame parachutists became briefly entangled in equipment above the end zone before descending safely to the ground, an alarming sight that fortunately resulted in no reported injuries.

Parachute accident at Armed Forces Bowl

Video courtesy of New York Post Sports via YouTube.com.

By Chris Price
Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 2. 2026) It has been reported by various media outlets, including the Houston Chronicle and USA Today, that one of the parachutists that was to land on the infield at Fort Worth’s Amon G. Carter Stadium accidentally got caught in a cable supporting the field-goal netting and remained suspended in mid-air for a second, before a fall of several yards.

The incident occurred during the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, leaving fans stunned. It was also reported that the parachutist appeared to have avoided serious injury.

Blake Horvath leads Navy to thrilling Armed Forces Bowl win

By Chris Price
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 27, 2024) Blake Horvath had a night to remember as Navy edged out Oklahoma 21-20 in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, played at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Friday. Horvath set a Navy record with a 95-yard touchdown run, helping the Midshipmen overcome an early 14-point deficit.

Horvath’s record-breaking run came late in the third quarter, tying the game at 14. With 4:34 left, he scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 6-yard run. Just moments earlier, he kept the drive alive with a clutch 16-yard pass on fourth-and-3.

Oklahoma made it interesting with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr. to Jake Roberts with six seconds left. The Sooners went for the win with a 2-point conversion, but Navy’s Justin Reed sacked Hawkins to seal the victory.

Horvath ran for 155 yards on 18 carries and threw for 92 yards. Alex Tecza added an 11-yard touchdown run for Navy. The Midshipmen (10-3) celebrated their sixth 10-win season, their first since 2019.

Oklahoma (6-7) started strong with Gavin Sawchuk’s 21-yard touchdown and Hawkins’ 56-yard pass to Zion Kearney. Hawkins, in his first start in two months, completed 28 of 43 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

This win marks Navy’s first bowl victory over an SEC team since 1955. The Midshipmen also improved to 2-0 all-time against Oklahoma.

Air Force downs James Madison 31-14 in Armed Forces Bowl

Photo and story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 23, 2023) In a thrilling showdown at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force Falcon football secured an impressive 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison Dukes. The Falcons capped their 2023 season with a 9-4 record.

The game unfolded as a clash of titans, with Air Force facing the nation's top-ranked rush defense in James Madison, allowing only 62 yards per game. However, the Falcons defied the odds, churning out a remarkable 351 yards on the ground. Senior fullback Emmanuel Michel emerged as the star of the show, setting an Air Force bowl record with an astounding 203 rushing yards on 35 carries, earning him the well-deserved title of Armed Forces Bowl MVP.

Air Force's victory was propelled by a relentless running game and a tenacious defense that tallied four sacks and an interception. Senior linebacker Bo Richter led the defensive charge with three sacks and 4.5 tackles-for-loss, both standing as Air Force bowl records.

The Falcons took control of the game in the second quarter, seizing momentum after linebacker Jonathan Youngblood intercepted James Madison's quarterback Jordan McCloud. Air Force capitalized on the turnover, orchestrating an impressive 72-yard drive culminating in another one-yard touchdown run by Michel. The first half concluded with quarterback Zac Larrier connecting with receiver Jared Roznos for a 42-yard touchdown, establishing a commanding 21-7 lead for the Falcons.

Despite James Madison's efforts to rally in the third quarter, Air Force responded emphatically with a 75-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Larrier's one-yard plunge, extending their lead to 28-14. The Falcons' dominance was further solidified as Matthew Dapore sealed the victory with a 26-yard field goal, bringing the score to 31-14 with 8:20 left in the game.

James Madison managed to score a late touchdown, but it was not enough to overcome Air Force's performance.