West Roxbury, Mass.—Gatorade named Catholic Memorial School junior Owen McGowan a candidate for its 2019 Football Player of the Year in Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon, according to a Gatorade representative.
“It’s surreal, I’d say,” said Owen, a junior from Canton.
“I grew up looking at all the great things the athletes in this state have done. To be nominated as one of the best in the state is a huge honor.”
According to its website, Gatorade established their annual player of the year award, “to recognize the nation’s most elite high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement, and exemplary character."
Last season, Mike Sainristil earned the award in Massachusetts during his senior season at Everett High School. He now plays for the University of Michigan.
At six-foot-one and 225-pounds, Owen experienced a break-out season for the Knights last year. During his sophomore season, he recorded a pick, blocked punt, two sacks, and over 100 combined tackles at outside linebacker. He also scored three touchdowns at tight end. After the Knights lost in the Division 1 Super Bowl, the Catholic Conference named Owen a Conference All-Star.
Heading into this season,
The Boston Herald and
The Boston Globe named Owen to their pre-season “players-to-watch” lists after he committed to play football at Boston College.
So far, Owen has lived up to the hype. Despite switching positions from tight end to running back, he already has three touchdowns halfway through the season. On defense, he has three sacks at outside linebacker.
The Boston Globe named Owen one of its
Division I Players of the Week after he recorded a sack, an interception, and a pair of touchdowns for the Knights in their 21-13 win over Springfield Central last month.
When asked who serves as his role model on-and-off the field, Owen talks about his older brother, Jack ’18, who plays for the Harvard football team. Now a sophomore at Harvard, Jack watches his younger brother play and trains with him during the offseason.
“[Jack]’s someone who I can look up to,” said Owen.
“He pushes me in the weight room and encourages me to go the extra mile."