Senior captain eager to showcase skills in Lee’s offensive scheme

Midland Lutheran College football coach Casey Thiele learned a lot about quarterback Terence Maahs following a one-on-one meeting last fall.

Maahs, who was sharing time with then-senior Tyler Swanson, wanted to be on the field. The Lincoln East graduate wasn’t interested in fueling any quarterback controversy involving his friend and teammate, he just wanted to play in some capacity.

"He said he could go down and help cover kickoffs or we could put him at defensive end," Thiele recalls about the meeting following a 33-19 loss to Dana. "We maybe didn’t know each other as well as what we thought we did prior to the meeting, but we came out of it with a lot more respect and appreciation for each other.

"I was totally blown away by his unselfishness. Terence was willing to help the team in anyway that he could. It was very humbling for me to see a player who was committed to do what’s best for the team and wanting to see Warrior football succeed."

That type of commitment has been noticed by others. Maahs was elected as one of the Warriors’ four captains for the upcoming season by a vote by his teammates.

"He is the best of what we want in a captain," Thiele said. "I think he is much more assertive and self-confident as a player this year and he’s more comfortable."

Maahs can’t wait for his senior season to begin. He passed for 363 yards and three touchdowns last fall, but missed three games with a shoulder separation.

"Last year we had Tyler and I playing quarterback," Maahs said. "I’ve dealt with adversity with the injury and things, but I think it has prepared me for this year. I’ve seen it all and it can’t get any worse. I know it will get better. I just think it is my time and Midland’s time to prove something. I think I can make things happen."

At 6-4, 228 pounds, Maahs has the size to make things happen for the MLC attack.

"He can benchpress more than 350 pounds and runs a 4.7 40 (-yard dash)," Thiele said. "He has the size, speed and strength for the position. He is a physically imposing human being."

Maahs is hoping to make big plays in scheme that has been installed by new offensive coordinator Kelley Lee.

"I’m tickled to death to be working with him," Maahs said. "I’m very comfortable around him. I can ask him anything. It’s nice to have that connection."

Lee’s system will feature a lot of option with play-action passing, the quarterback said. It also includes a no-huddle call system.

"That’s something different," Maahs said. "We’re doing that to keep the pace up and keep the defenses guessing. I thought it might be kind of hard in the beginning, but we worked out the kinks in spring ball. I think coming into the fall we’ve adjusted pretty well."

Maahs raves about the weapons the Warriors have, including senior running back Jinho Tohara, tight end Shane Weitzel and running back newcomers Eric Hart and Brandon Brooks. Midland also has an offensive line that includes experienced players in Curtis Lastovica, Randy Donner and Jordan Crook.

"We’ve got some backs with Jinho, Brooks and Hart. Those guys are threats," Maahs said. "Our linemen are stacked this year. This is one of the best years we’ve had as far as height, mobility, strength and quickness. We’ve got a lot of receivers back and they’ve worked hard."

Maahs also worked hard to come back from a shoulder separation suffered during a 35-0 loss to top-10 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) last October.

"I got too play against Nebraska Wesleyan (in the Warriors’ season finale) and that was kind of inspirational for me for the future," he said. "I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I’ve worked hard on being ready when the fourth quarter rolls around."

The conditioning and strength Maahs has developed may help him in making big plays during crunch time.

"I think I have a great arm," he said. "As far as running ability, I’m not an east-west kind of runner, but I’m a north-south kind of guy. I like to be the one giving the hit rather than getting the hit."

The Warriors were picked to finish 10th in the Great Plains Athletic Conference race in a vote by league coaches earlier this month. Maahs said the preseason predictions don’t faze the Warriors.

"Personally, that’s fine if they want to put us there. I think we’re all going to give them a shock," he said. "I think we’re going to change this program around. We’re not about the past, we’re about the future. ... I think everyone here thinks we’ll get back on track and have a bright year."