Owens proves it's better to receive against SMU

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

This is why Chad Owens doesn't return kicks anymore.

Hawai'i's Josiah Cravalho shows picture-perfect form in tackling SMU quarterback Tate Wallis. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"From this point on, this game will set the tone for the rest of my career here as a receiver," said Owens, a sophomore slotback. "Every week now, I have to try and better what I did tonight."

Owens, who was Mr. Excitement as a record-setting kick returner last season, has become the Warriors' most dependable receiver this season. Through the first four starts of this season, Owens leads the team with 23 receptions and 313 receiving yards.

"I don't think we've come close to seeing what he can do yet," said Ron Lee, who coaches the UH receivers. "He's going to have a lot of better games than this. He was fortunate enough to get open tonight and the (quarterbacks) found him. It was Chad's night."

From Hawai'i's first offensive play of the game, it was clear that Owens would be in the clear all game. His 51-yard reception from quarterback Tim Chang off a flea-flicker play (fullback Thero Mitchell faked a run up the middle then tossed the ball back to Chang) was the longest of his career.

"It was a read off the safety," Owens explained. "(The safety) went over to the Nate Ilaoa's side and so my side was wide open. Timmy made the right read and got it to me."

By halftime, Owens already established a personal best with 112 receiving yards on six catches.

What's more, both Chang and backup Shawn Withy-Allen found Owens throughout the game. Of Chang's 15 completions and 246 yards, Owens caught eight for 141 yards. Of Withy-Allen's five completions and 62 yards, Owens had three receptions and 41 yards.

Withy-Allen said the "underneath" routes to Owens were created by the SMU defense.

"They had two very good (cornerbacks); we knew that coming in," Withy-Allen said of the SMU defense. "And they were up real tight on our outside (receivers) and that left the slots open."

With Hawai'i holding a tenuous 14-3 lead at halftime, Chang took full advantage of Owens at the start of the third quarter. On a seven-play, 78-yard drive, Owens caught four passes for 59 yards. Chang's 19-yard touchdown run capped the drive and seemed to give the Warriors momentum they would never relinquish.

Owens did not play the entire fourth quarter. He aggravated a hyperextended left elbow injury in the third quarter, but said it would not keep him out of action next week.

Despite the blowout victory, Owens never got a chance to return a kickoff or punt last night. Prior to the start of this season, UH head coach June Jones announced that Owens would not return kicks because he had earned a starting slotback position.

"I miss it sometimes," Owens said. "But we won the game, that's the bottom line."