Freshman Owens honored

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

OWENS: 100-yard kickoff return

Owens, a 5-foot-8, 175-pound redshirt freshman from Roosevelt High, scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the Warriors' 52-30 victory over Air Force Saturday night.

It was credited as the second-longest kickoff return in the program's history, although it equaled the distance of Thomas Kaulukukui's 103-yard return in 1935. The rules have changed since then, and any kickoff return fielded in the end zone statistically starts at the goal line. Owens' kickoff return started three yards deep in the end zone.

"It's a great honor, but I thank God for the blocks and for my teammates," Owens said. In particular, Owens said, a block from Tui Ala provided a running lane along the sideline.

"He's an offensive Nate Jackson," UH coach June Jones said, comparing Owens to the Warriors' gritty starting free safety. "He has tremendous vision and great toughness."

Owens, a backup at left slotback, was one of the last players added to the travel roster for the Warriors' first road game.

As a kick returner, he said, "I was, like, third or fourth on the depth chart."

But Rich Miano, who coaches the return team, was impressed with Owens' work in practice. Miano encouraged Jones to allow Owens to return kicks. Owens earned his chance against Fresno State Oct. 26, and has kept the job ever since.

"To be a great kickoff return guy you have to be fearless, and he's fearless," Miano said.

Owens, who also returns punts, rarely calls for fair catches — and he rarely goes down without a struggle.

He credits his legs, which were strengthened from weight training, playing soccer and his hip-hop dance moves.

"None of this ballet-type stuff," Owens said. "I can dance."

Nevada's Chance Kretschmer won offensive player of the week honors after rushing 45 times for 327 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-31 win over UTEP.