DaOne Owens relieved on first playoff win; takes advice from Browns QB Deshaun Watson

MASSILLON – The Massillon Tigers’ victory over Central Crossing in the first round of the Division II, Region 7 playoffs means more to senior quarterback DaOne Owens than meets the eye.

As the Tigers focus on Westerville South (7-4) in the next round, it was a sigh of relief for Owens to pick up a playoff victory, which he hadn’t experienced throughout his high school career in Copley despite making appearances.

“It feels great, you know, training ever since I got to high school and finally being able to relax, knowing that I could get a playoff win, it felt great,” Owens said. “I’ve been putting in the work since I was a youth in high school and feeling accomplished getting an actual playoff win.”

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Owens had a career night, throwing for a season-high 341 yards, the sixth most in Massillon history, and four touchdowns. In the last three games, he has thrown for 726 yards and nine touchdowns.

Owens, also Massillon’s leading rusher, has produced 2,060 yards of total offense and 25 total touchdowns as Massillon has outscored its opponents 440-88.

“I can always pass,” Owens said. “Last year, I threw for 2,600 (yards). I can always pass. There’s nothing different. I just practice how I practiced and go out there and perform. There’s no difference.”

It also helps to have a premier weapon to which to throw. Owens has three dependable junior receivers: Jacques Carter (32 catches, 709 yards, 7 TDs), Braylyn Toles (33, 471, 7) and Emy Louis Jr. (12, 273, 5).

“I can say all good things about all of them,” Owens said. “I can’t pick one guy. They are all a big help on offense as you see them carrying most of the passing load and are a great set of receivers to have.”

Owens seeks advice from Deshaun Watson in podcast

Nate Moore texted Owens at 5 in the morning, asking if he wanted to be on a podcast with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Of course, Owens said yes.

The show is called "QB Unplugged" with Watson and Quincy Avery as his co-hosts. It's a show on which high school quarterbacks across the state are invited to meet with Watson as they watch their game films and receive feedback from the Browns QB. Owens was featured on episode seven on Oct. 13, and Watson and Avery got to know him while breaking down his film. Of course, there were nerves. Can you blame him? He was sitting next to a three-time Pro Bowler.

“My teammates said that they watched and could tell that I was nervous,” Owens said. “I was pretty nervous talking to them, but as the podcast went on I got comfortable.”

Owens got comfortable the more they talked about football. Watson gave him tips Owens could use going forward, such as knowing his offense. That was one piece of advice Owens took from the conversation. It was enough for Owens to reopen and study the Massillon playbook.

“It was pretty good learning from a great quarterback, getting his side, teaching me a couple of good things and overall, a good experience,” Owens said. “I got to learn a lot of things with him.”

Watson’s advice is also a way for Owens, who received college interest in October, to prepare to play football at the next level. Southern Illinois offered the senior on Oct. 17 — Owen’s second Division I offer. He was also offered by Temple last summer.

“It feels good getting these colleges looking at me,” Owens said. “We got Coach (Travis) McGuire, who really handles that for me. He helps me with the college recruits, and I’m just worried about playing football.”

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: DaOne Owens receives advice from Browns' Deshaun Watson