Maxwell challenged with reviving offense

ATHENS, Ohio — This preseason training camp is different from the previous three for the Ohio University football team. For once, redshirt sophomore Quinton Maxwell’s name stands alone on the depth chart as the team’s starting quarterback.

Maxwell, though, doesn’t have his name written on the dryerase board in indelible marker five days into practices leading to the Sept. 2 opener against Hampton.

“There are still challenges that do occur, but I think Quinton has going into fall camp obviously put himself at No. 1,” coach Frank Solich said Friday. “The reason for that is that he has game experience and he has played well at times.”

Solich wants Maxwell to get the Bobcats into the end zone more than Greg Windham and Maxwell did in 2016, when the team was a poor 45 percent (27 for 60) scoring touchdowns inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. Ohio also had 25 turnovers and converted only 38 percent on third down.

That contributed to the Bobcats (8-6) losing five games by seven or fewer points. Ohio hasn’t had a game-breaking quarterback since Tyler Tettleton from 2011-13.

“We have to play better on offense to get things done,” Solich said. “I do think we have talent at the quarterback spot, and with that talent I do expect us to play well. We have to take better care of the football, and that means the quarterback has to make better decisions.”

At 6 feet 3, 223 pounds, Maxwell has a large body and a big arm. He started against Kent State, Buffalo, Central Michigan and Akron, with the Bobcats losing only to Central Michigan. The native of Rayville, Missouri, passed for 1,267 yards and eight touchdowns but was intercepted four times and lost three of his eight fumbles.

Maxwell said he learned a lot last season sharing the job with Windham. His current backup is Nathan Rourke, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College.

“It definitely was a learning experience,” Maxwell said. “This year, (offensive co-coordinator Tim) Albin told me I have to be better than the redshirt freshman (I was last year). I am going to roll with it.

“The biggest thing for me is to control what I can control and staying focused on my job and not trying to do too much.”

At the same time, Maxwell has to do enough so the Bobcats don’t have to rely so much on kicker Louie Zervos, who led the Mid-American Conference last season with 29 field goals.

“We know last year we got down there way too often without coming away with touchdowns,” Maxwell said. “We have to execute way better. We can’t settle for field goals, and we know it. We’re going to be more aggressive taking more shots to get the ball into the end zone.”

Albin pointed out that three of Maxwell’s four interceptions resulted from desperation passes late in games.

“I think he is on schedule and we need for him to have a big year,” Albin said. “He is off to a good start. He knows our offense.”