One of the unheralded members of Oak Park-River Forest’s stout defense is junior nose tackle Austin Maxwell.
Even though Maxwell is 6-foot, 290 pounds, he is easy to miss playing between veteran defensive ends Allen Stallings and Connor Nelson.
“He’s a blue-collar football player,” OPRF defensive line coach Jay Kuchenbecker said.
The Huskies (9-1) finished second in the West Suburban Silver because of its defense and ranked fifth among 32 Class 8A playoff teams in fewest points allowed with 11.8 per game entering the playoffs.
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OPRF’s first-round playoff opponent, Fremd, scored above that average, but the Huskies defense came through in the clutch to stuff a potential game-winning drive at the OPRF 46-yard line in the final minute. OPRF won 26-17 on Friday, Oct. 30, in Oak Park to avoid a repeat of last year’s playoff-opening upset to Fremd’s Mid-Suburban West rival, Barrington.
Maxwell is OPRF’s first-year nose tackle in a 3-5-3 defense led by a star-studded linebacking corps. Maxwell has played every game this season between Stallings and Nelson, a pair of two-year starters at their positions.
Kuchenbecker said the nose tackle position was wide open before the season, but Maxwell earned the first shot to start with a strong offseason in the weight room and during summer workouts. Maxwell has started every game since the season opener.
“He plays a thankless position,” Kuchenbecker said. “Without him, our 3-5-3 does not have strength up the middle. Without him, the linebackers don’t do what they do. He commands double teams. He has fit right in.”
Maxwell is still looking for his highlight play and realizes that he’s not out there alone.
“Nobody has given up on me,” Maxwell said. “I’ve had some bad days, some bad days on film. (My teammates) let me know about it.”
Maxwell’s teammates have given him a nickname befitting his role on the team.
“They call me, ‘Man up,'” said Maxwell, realizing that he is one of the foundations of the Huskies’ defense.
With the victory over 29th-seeded Fremd (5-5), fourth-seeded OPRF will play 13th-seeded Palatine or 20th-seeded Sandburg in the second round.
Twitter @geomwilcox