STARKVILLE — Ben Owens has seen his name go up and down on the depth chart.
The Starkville High School football quarterback served as Montario Montgomery’s backup last season, so he felt he had a chance to be the starter this year.
When the season started, though, senior Jaquez Akins was named the starter, but he was hurt in the season opener against Noxubee County. Instead of going to Owens, Starkville coach Ricky Woods went to sophomore Malik Brown.
It was difficult for Owens to ride the bench and watch a younger player play. He wasn’t bitter, but he needed some guidance, so he talked to his father, Jared, regularly.
“He told me to stay patient,” Ben said. “Through the low times, he kept me positive and tried to keep my confidence up.
“He believed in me. He knew the whole time I could be starting quarterback for Starkville High School. He believed in me like none other could. He just had tremendous faith in me, and it means a lot to me, especially in those low times.”
Owens’ hard work finally paid off. He started against Greenville High last Friday and was 8 of 16 for 149 yards and four touchdowns in a 70-0 victory. At 7 p.m. Friday, Owens will get his first road start when No. 10 Starkville (5-2, 2-1 Region 2-6A) will play at Madison Central (4-3-1, 2-1) in a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A, Region 2 game.
Jared said his son handled the adversity well and never entertained the thought of giving up and quitting the team. He said Ben wants to play football and will do whatever it takes to be on the gridiron.
Talking with Ben, Jared gave his son advice he heard from one of his high school coaches.
“I guess what I said to him, ‘Hey baby, life ain’t fair.’ You know what, it’s not and it’s something you’ve got to prepare for,” Jared said. “You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control what happens in you and Ben handled it well, real well.”
Ben Owens is 10 of 27 for 164 yards, four touchdowns and three touchdowns.
When he wasn’t announced as the starter in the preseason, Ben said he decided not to let it affect him.
“The coaches put the best players out there that they think are the best players,” Ben said. “I respect that, and I worked as hard as I could to get there and it paid off. I just try to do the best I can.”
Woods said he likes that Ben is a hard practice player, has an eye for detail, and takes direction well. He called him a “student of the game” and said Ben handles the run/pass option well.
Having to play three quarterbacks hasn’t been easy for the Yellow Jackets. Woods also knows the waiting wasn’t easy for Ben.
“I imagine it’s been frustrating a little bit,” Woods said. “It’s his turn and I’m proud for him. I hope he does really, really, really, really well because if he’s done really, really, well, we’ve done really, really well. He’s waited his turn and he’s ready for his turn to happen.”
Owens said the best part of his game is his ability to read defenses and to pick out coverages. He said he can move defenses to give the offense the best chance to be successful.
Jared Owens said his son knew he has been one play away from going in. Ben experienced that in the jamboree at Brandon High, when Akins twisted his ankle on the first drive and he had to come in.
With the rain pouring down and playing at the state’s preseason No. 1 team in front of large crowd, Owens and the Yellow Jackets faced a third-and-long. Jared said Ben threw a pretty ball, but the cornerback made an athletic play to intercept the pass and returned it for a touchdown.
“You’re like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It was already taking a tough turn and then for it to kind of go that way at Brandon, it was pretty tough,” Jared said.
Ben said the last two weeks have been great. He said the win was special and has given him added incentive to practice harder. He said the team has practiced well this week and has found a new focus.
Jared is happy his son became the starter. He described their family as a “football family.” But with a son playing one of the more important positions, he said it is different than watching a college or NFL game with no family connections.
“It’s not just a game anymore. You’re actually going home with them,” Jared said. “You see a lousy weekend when it’s a slow week or it’s a great one, depending on how Friday night goes. For your kid’s sake and no other reason, you just want him to play well.”
Last season, Ben played in seven games and was 14 of 31 for 182 yards and one touchdown as the Jackets won the MHSAA Class 6A State championship. He watched Montgomery lead Starkville to the title and learned patience. The first seven games this season helped show him things don’t happen overnight.
“You just wait your turn, grind hard at practice, and all that will come,” Ben said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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