Zechariah Owens, Northwest Missouri State's change-of-pace quarterback, threw a curveball at Central Missouri Saturday, and his performance earned recognition from the conference.
For the first time in his career, Owens is the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
The redshirt freshman from Glendale, AZ accounted for six of Northwest's seven touchdowns Saturday in Warrensburg. The Bearcats defeated the Mules 49-32 and remained unbeaten in league play.
Owens paced the Bearcats with a game-high 124 rush yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries. He also threw for 80 yards, two scores, and didn't turn the ball over in the win.
Trailing 14-0 late in the first quarter, Owens sparked the Northwest offense with an eight-play, 75-yard drive ending with a touchdown pass to Luke Mathews.
Midway through the second quarter and facing a fourth and goal from the one-yard line, head coach John McMenamin kept the ball in the hands of his young signal-caller. Owens bulled into the end zone allowing the Bearcats to knot the game 14-14. He then gave Northwest the lead on the next drive, again scoring on fourth down inside the five-yard line.
The second half included scoring runs of eight and 44 yards, while also connecting with Mathews through the air for a second time.
Owens spear-headed a Bearcat rushing attack that amassed 358 yards.
Northwest returns home this weekend against Fort Hays State riding a five-game win streak.
