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Ohio quarterback Nathan Rourke lies on the ground after being tackled during the Bobcats' game against Howard on Saturday.

Football: Fast reactions to Ohio’s 38-32 win against Howard

Headed into halftime, Ohio trailed by five. A touchdown with under a minute to go made the score reasonable, but the threat was real — a loss to an Football Championship Subdivision opponent on its own turf. The offense struggled to convert on third down, and the defense allowed two trick plays to hurt them. 

But in a one-minute span, a kickoff return and an interception changed the trajectory of the game. Ohio evaded Howard, winning 38-32 on Saturday afternoon at Peden Stadium. 

Here are three fast reactions:

Quinton Maxwell

Almost a year after his last start, Quinton Maxwell had an opportunity to put himself back in the starting quarterback picture. 

He entered the game at the start of the second quarter, inheriting a 10-3 deficit, but he never left. Maxwell went 17 of 25 with 233 yards and two touchdowns. 

A slow start — two straight three-and-outs — turned into promise. He led the Bobcats down the field for their first touchdown of the season, a six-play, 78-yard drive. He completed four passes on the drive including the final touchdown pass on a slant to Papi White. Maxwell looked comfortable in the pocket, standing tall and making his reads.

Still, there were flashbacks of why Maxwell hasn’t been the starting quarterback over the last year. He stares down his target and doesn’t always asses the correct read on the play. 

Starter Nathan Rourke never re-entered the game. There is no update at press time on his status. 

The return

Needing a quick score to start the comeback effort, Ohio setup to return the kick at the beginning of the third quarter. 

Standing to the right side as a returner, DL Knock took the kickoff, cut across the field at the Mid-American Conference logo and ran 99 yards for a touchdown. It changed the outcome of the game and gave Ohio the lead. 

It was the first time since 2014 that any Bobcat returned a kickoff for a touchdown. It's also the third-longest kickoff return in school history. The coverage on the return was solid, and, after a block in the back flag earlier in the game, it had to be a relief for coach Frank Solich that no flags were thrown on the return. 

Knock, a redshirt junior, took over as a backup wide receiver last season, catching his first touchdown in the Bahamas Bowl. His play Saturday was one of few positives for the Bobcats.

Slow start 

Despite winning Saturday's game, Ohio looked sluggish in the first half. The Bobcats were 1-of-8 on third down conversions. 

@Pete_Nakos96

pn997515@ohio.edu

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