
Ohio led off the game with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that . . .
Gardner-Webb responded on its first possession going 75 yards in 3:29 to tie the game 7-7. However, with 0:18 left in the first quarter Papi White answered back for the Bobcats with a 17-yard rush to house to give Ohio a 14-7 lead.
“I think we can have some depth at that (quarterback) spot,” Ohio head coach Frank Solich said. “I think that’s what was proven today. Maxwell has been a guy that responds well to the pressure. He hangs in the pocket really well, and he’s confident and he’s not afraid to take a hit and is always searching down field.”
“Well, after I got the jitters out it felt pretty good,” Maxwell said of his debut. “It is a feeling and something I wont ever forget. I just give Sebastian a chance and he goes up and makes plays, He is good at that, so I just give him a chance. It felt great. After I got the nerves and the jitters out, it all came down that what we were working on all week in practice and executing the basics.”
Ohio’s offense continued to roll as it capped off a 65-yard drive with Maxwell’s second touchdown pass of the game completed to Kyle Belack, the first of his career, gave the Bobcats a 21-point lead with the score 28-7. The 13-yard touchdown marked four straight touchdown drives for Ohio to start the game.
Less than a minute later, Kent Berger added two points for Ohio when he sacked Gardner-Webb quarterback Tyrell Maxwell for a safety.
On the ensuing drive after the safety, Louie Zervos missed his second field goal of the season, a 35-yard attempt, and Ohio led 30-7 at the half.
Gardner-Webb came out fighting in the second half, scoring on its first drive. Khalil Lewis capped the drive with a 31-yard touchdown run.
After a six minute scoring drought form both teams, Bo Hardy recorded his touchdown run as a Bobcat with a one-yard run, Ohio’s lone score of the second half, to make the score 37-14.
After the change of possession, Tarell Basham forced a fumble that was recovered by Casey Sayles with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. However, Ohio could not capitalize as Quinton Maxwell threw an interception in the end zone.
-Gardner Webb scored on its final drive of the game, the lone score by both teams in the fourth quarter, when Maxwell recorded a 27-yard touchdown pass to Willie Jackson IV.
Ohio next heads to Oxford, Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 1 when the Bobcats take on Miami in the ‘Battle of the Bricks.” Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics)