The 2023 Armed Forces Bowl was dramatically paused on Friday afternoon following a frightening head injury to Rice Owls defensive star Daveon Hook. The postseason clash between Rice and Texas State at Fort Worth's Amon G. Carter Stadium was overshadowed by the serious incident, which occurred during the third quarter.
Chaotic Scenes at Amon G. Carter Stadium
The game's atmosphere had already been unsettled by an earlier mishap involving a parachutist landing in the stands. This chaotic tone continued when safety Daveon Hook was involved in a brutal tackle. ESPN cameras captured the moment a Texas State player collided with Hook's head and neck area.
Footage showed the player lying on the field, briefly adjusting his helmet before medical personnel rushed to his aid. Hook remained on the turf for approximately ten minutes while being stabilised by the medical team. His Rice Owls teammates gathered around in a show of support before he was carefully loaded onto a stretcher and carted off the field to applause.
Immediate Outpouring of Support Online
Concerned fans quickly took to social media platform X to send prayers and well-wishes for the injured athlete. One supporter wrote, 'That Daveon Hook injury is genuinely terrifying. So so so many prayers for him.' Another message stated, 'Praying for Daveon Hook of Rice what a scary situation man.'
The collective sentiment was summarised by a fan who posted, 'Terrible for Daveon Hook. Hope he's ok.' Before his injury, Hook had recorded two tackles in the game for the Owls.
Texas State Secures Decisive Victory
On the field, Texas State established control of the contest, taking a 10-7 lead into halftime. They dominated after the break, ultimately securing a convincing 41-10 victory. Bobcats quarterback Brad Jackson was instrumental in the win, completing 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 166 yards and throwing three touchdowns.
The final scoreline, however, was secondary to the wellbeing of Daveon Hook, with the football community united in hoping for positive news on his recovery following the alarming incident.
