[tps_title]Delco Christian Knights [/tps_title]
ANNE NEBORAK-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA
Lower Merion’s Elijah Smith holds on to the ball as Delaware County Christian School’s Jalen Mitchell tries to take get the ball from him.
Quarterback a realistic option for DC’s Gutowski
Luke Gutowski passes the eye test for a quarterback, with his presence under center and imposing physicality.
So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the Delco Christian senior’s previous experience as a signal-caller is limited to one series in last year’s District 1 Class A final, a blowout loss to Jenkintown that ended a 3-7 season. 
This year — out of equal parts necessity and pragmatism, plus a dash of ingenuity on coach Drew Pearson’s part — Gutowski will be tasked with running the Knights’ three-back sets.
The learning curve is shallow: Gutowski is used to making the same reads from the back position. It’s just a matter of shifting the lens on the triple-option to the QB’s perspective, which he said has become second nature this summer.
“It’s kind of like the same thing,” Gutowski said. “I knew all the plays for the running back because I learned every position for the running backs. It’s not that much different. You just have the ball every play and you’re handing it off to somebody or you’re keeping it or you’re passing it.
“I like it. It’s a new adjustment and I’m getting used to it.”
Gutowski was among the top playmakers on last year’s Knights squad, and he figured to have the ball in his hands regularly this season. He looks the part of an impact player, and his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame makes him a daunting target to tackle.
The lack of an aerial arsenal isn’t exactly new for Delco Christian; graduated signal-caller Jake Allen attempted 10 passes last year, two for touchdowns. Gutowski’s running credentials make him a more potent threat for quarterback keepers off the edge, which keeps end-rushers pinned in containment and, as halfback Jalen Mitchell so delicately points out, means fewer free runs up field.
“He’s taking a little focus off the running backs so we don’t have to get hit as much, so that’s fun,” Mitchell said. “And he’s just an excellent player.”
Adaptability has become a common trait for the Knights given last year’s adversity. Pearson graduated seven varsity contributors from the 2015 team that saw a 10-2 season culminate in the District 1/12 Class A sub-regional. Factor in a handful of players Pearson hoped to count on who either left the school or didn’t try out, and the task of rebounding from a raft of injuries that sidelined nine players in the first month of last season was nearly irrecoverable for a team with a roster numbering in the 30s.
The upside of those struggles is how many underclassmen cut their teeth in significant playing time. Those who managed to fight the injury bug acquired a toughness borne of the experience.
“It’s easy to keep playing when you’re winning,” Mitchell said. “When you’re losing as much as we did, it’s hard to keep playing. It builds toughness.”
“Half our team played for the first time last year,” senior running back Chris Chung said. “Now they’re out here looking good. They were here all summer training. They’re ready to go.”
Mitchell, Chung and shifty sophomore Jared Nesbitt figure to be the starting backfield triumvirate, with Elijah Thomas and tight end Nigel Ray options in the passing game. Nesbitt and 6-3 tight end/defensive end Abby East both played significantly as freshmen last year.
Tyler van Eerden will lead the line both ways.
Another Mitchell
Also in the backfield mix as a freshman is the younger Mitchell brother, Jordan, a freshman. Like Jalen, Jordan was home-schooled through junior high before Jalen convinced his family of the benefits of Jordan joining him at Delco Christian.
Part of the inspiration for the Norristown natives stemmed from the family imprint DC’s roster usually includes.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Jalen said. “I really wanted him to come to school here because he wasn’t going to come at first. I saw Jake and Luke (Gutowski’s) experience last year, and it felt like I just wanted to be a good leader and be the big brother because it’s nothing if I can just lead a team. I have to be able to lead my little brother, lead my family.”
Mr. Smith goes to the gridiron
With as tiny a roster as Delco Christian usually totes, an addition like Tyler Smith and his 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame doesn’t escapes notice.
The senior who started on the basketball team rockets to the top of the list for size on the offensive line. While he’s never played scholastic football, his interest in the game and nimbleness for his size required by his time on the hardwood eases the adjustment.
“He’s got some agility,” van Eerden said. “He and I played basketball a while back, and you can definitely see his speed and agility.”
By Matthew DeGeorge; mdegeorge@21st-centurymedia.com
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