WEEK 2 STATS: 237 yds from scrimmage, 39 carries, 199 rush yards, TD, 1 reception, 38 receiving yards
Owens erupted for 237 yards from scrimmage during Robert Morris’ trip to North Dakota, the highest total of all NEC players in Week 2. The rookie running back pounded his way to 199 yards on 39 rushing attempts in what was the Colonials’ first-ever meeting with a Big Sky Conference member. The 199 yards represent a RMU record for single-game rushing yardage by a freshman. It is also the highest total by any Colonial in the program’s past 62 games and the most a by a Colonial in non-conference contest since 1995. Owens, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry, gained 38 yards on his lone reception. The Ohio-born freshman reached the end zone for the second game in a row when he barreled in from two yards out with 9:28 remaining in the third quarter. The two-yard plunge gave the Colonials a 13-9 lead. Owens, who registered 13 first downs on Saturday night, also set up Robert Morris’ first touchdown of the game late in the opening quarter. With RMU facing a 3rd-and-8 from UND’s 44, Owens took a screen pass and rumbled 38 yards down to the 6-yard line. The Colonials scored on the next play. Owens’ workman-like performance allowed RMU to possess the ball for nearly 35:00 and run a total of 80 offensive plays – the most since 2004.