Arena football player makes ridiculous one-handed touchdown catch leaving coaches, teammates baffled
Thomas Owens of the Indoor Football League's Massachusetts Pirates went viral over the weekend
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The NFL may be in its offseason, but several football leagues are in full swing, including the Indoor Football League where a ridiculous touchdown catch was made by a member of the Massachusetts Pirates over the weekend.
The Pirates defeated the Sioux Falls Storm, 49-41, this past Friday, and the incredible efforts of wide receiver Thomas Owens helped pick up Massachusetts’ third win of the season.
Quarterback Ale Bennifield dropped back to pass in the first quarter and lofted a ball to the back right of the end zone. That’s where Owens was streaking to with a defender from Sioux Falls draped all over him.
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Thomas Owens of the Massachusetts Pirates stands for headshot (Massachusetts Pirates)
But that was no matter for Owens, who reached across his body with just one arm and snagged the ball as he slammed into the pads that are found around the arena football field.
His coaches and teammates couldn’t believe their eyes after the catch made it 14-9.
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"I’ve seen a lot of catches in my day, and that’s in the top ten for best catches I've ever seen," offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Bones Bagaunte said, via a Pirates press release.
"At the last minute, I seen the ball in the air…I tried to jump before the defender could jump to kinda get an advantage of high point of the ball and you know when I went up and I grabbed it once I had it," Owens said after the game, where he had three catches for 30 yards and another touchdown. "It was basically ball game that’s kinda how that play went…from there, it was a celebration after that cause I helped my team."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The play went viral on social media, and ended up on ESPN SportCenter’s classic "Top 10 Plays" where it was No. 1 on the list for the day.
Owens signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 after coming out of Florida International University, where he earned Conference USA first-team honors. He’s now in his fourth season with the Pirates.
Thomas Owens of the Indoor Football League's Massachusetts Pirates made a highlight-worthy play over the weekend. (Massachusetts Pirates)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}So, while NFL players rest up and look ahead to the Draft later this month, leagues like the Indoor Football League and United Football League are already making highlight-reel plays for fans to enjoy.
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