By Kyle Garmes
Correspondent
Football isn’t supposed to be as easy as Chicago Christian made it look in Week 2.
Five players found the end zone for the Knights in a 52-6 victory over Clay, a school from South Bend, Ind. All those touchdowns, including multiple defensive scores, came in the first half.
Some players are supposed to score touchdowns, but Chicago Christian senior defensive lineman Jaylen Daniels probably isn’t. So when he recovered a fumble for a touchdown late in the first quarter, it was a special moment.
It was his first touchdown ever.
“It felt good — that’s the only way I can describe it,” Daniels said. “I finally got me a touchdown on the defensive line. It just feels good.”
Chicago Christian (2-0) led 35-0 after the first stanza and 49-6 at halftime. A running clock was in place before the first half ended.
Daniels knows things will change when the Knights host Wheaton Academy on Friday, Sept. 8 in the opening game of the newly formed Chicagoland Christian Conference.
“We had that lock-in mentality, and that’s all there is to it,” Daniels said of the performance against Clay. “Next week we play some better opponents, so we have to bump up our mentality.”
Chicago Christian quarterback Christian Flutman (6-for-6 passing, 74 yards) ran and threw for touchdowns, and Zeke Goble had two rushing scores. Obadiah Goble also had a rushing touchdown.
On the Clay drive subsequent to Daniels’ touchdown, Knights defensive back Caden Boersma added a pick-six when he grabbed a Liam Wolf pass to the left side and took it in from 32-yards out.
Chicago Christian coach Dan Chiarito was happy to see his defense — which has yet to give up a touchdown — “flying around.” And he was pleased to see his offense able to turn to various players.
“We’re a team of 27 guys, but we’re balanced,” Chiarito said. “Each guy works hard for each other. So if we have to run the ball 30 times a game or throw the ball 30 times a game, the running backs and receivers know when their time is called, they’ve got to step up and do a job. I thought that they did that well tonight.”
Chicago Christian scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions.
Daniels also plays left offensive tackle and is encouraged by how the offense is progressing.
“I think that our offense is pretty solid,” Daniels said. “We know what to do. Sometimes we have little brain farts here and there, but it’s a solid offense.”
Being 2-0 to start the season is nice. Last year, the Knights had to win their final four games to make the postseason.
Daniels remembers the challenge of weeks 2 through 5 were, when the Chicago Christian lost four straight games.
“Then, we bounced back from that,” Chiarito said. “Two wins in a row, it’s a wonderful feeling. Hopefully, we can keep the streak up.”
The new Chicagoland Christian Conference doesn’t look that different than the Metro Suburban Conference that Chicago Christian was in, as many teams transferred into the new league.
Chiarito knows his team will have to keep stacking wins against familiar foes.
“It’s good, quality Christian and Catholic schools,” he said. “Good competition. It’s a well-balanced conference. It’s strong top to bottom; a lot of playoff-quality opponents.”
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