In the spring of 2024, just a few months before the football season started, Ohio announced the signing of wide receiver Coleman Owen*. At the time, Owen was an unknown figure from the West Coast who had only seen success at the FCS level*.
Now, Coleman Owen is the heart of the Ohio football team.
Ohio needed a breakout game over the weekend against Buffalo. The team was spiraling after a loss to its rival Miami*, and the offense, in particular, had a lot of questions to answer.
The Bobcats got that breakout game when it took on Buffalo.* The offense, led by Coleman Owen, was a big reason why.
“That was the first game that we played this season where we played all four quarters,” Owen said.*
Ohio scored 47 points on one of the MAC’s best defenses*. Quarterback Parker Navarro had his best game passing the ball this season, and Owen had three total touchdowns* in the blowout win.
While it may not be a breakout for Owen, who has already tallied a handful of signature performances in his eight games with the Bobcats, he was unstoppable against the Bulls.
Owen’s first touchdown of the day was arguably his most impressive. Navarro was facing pressure in the pocket and rolled out right to find a wide-open Owen downfield, leading to a 65-yard receiving touchdown*.
Owen and Navarro, who share the same home state of Arizona*, have a connection like no other this season.
“(Navarro) has been one of my best friends off the field, too,” Owen said. “I trust in him every day. The o-line does a great job holding up for him, and we trust him to put the ball where it needs to be.”*
After the Ohio defense forced a field goal, the offense had a chance to march down the field and take a two-score lead late in the first half*. Led by an elite connection between Navarro and Owen, Ohio did just that*.
A 22-yard completion downfield to Owen, mixed in with a few run plays, set up a 13-yard receiving touchdown that Owen spectacularly pulled in with a defender in his face*.
“These guys around me, the defense, the o-line, everybody does a great job giving me an opportunity to play this game,” Owen said. “It’s a lot of fun when we’ve got things rolling.*”
Ohio carried a commanding 14-point lead into halftime and never looked back*.
Owen wasn’t done getting in the end zone after just one half. Early into the fourth quarter, Owen closed out an impressive Ohio drive with his first career rushing touchdown*.
Albin called a tricky reverse play that got the ball into the hands of his star receiver in the backfield. Owen took advantage of the play call with a 22-yard score*.
At game end, Owen had 146 receiving yards on six receptions for three touchdowns*.
If the Ohio offense can perform for four quarters the way that it did against Buffalo, it will set itself up for success in the conference down the stretch.
