When senior quarterback Christian Flutman throws a touchdown pass, he doesn’t have much time to celebrate on the sideline for Chicago Christian.
Flutman comes right back on the field to play defensive back. And play it quite well. He broke a school record with seven interceptions during the regular season.
Rest? Flutman doesn’t want it.
“Playing defense with all my brothers, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Flutman said. “If I make a good play on defense, I get so much more motivated to go play offense. I think playing defense makes me a better athlete, a better quarterback. It keeps me warmed up and ready for the game.
“I think it’s a perfect mix.”
It sure was a recipe for success Saturday night.
Flutman threw three TD passes, added a 69-yard TD run and made several big defensive plays to lead the host Knights to the biggest win in program history, a 34-13 victory over Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game in Palos Heights.
Flutman completed 10 of 15 passes for 146 yards for Chicago Christian (11-1). Kenny Jager ran for 140 yards on 18 carries, including a 72-yard TD. Eddie Van Dellen made five catches for 86 yards and two TDs and had an interception, while Niko Griggs added a sack and tackle for loss.
The Knights, who advanced to the semifinals for the first time in program history, will play at 2 p.m. Saturday on the road at Farmington (12-0).
The first pass Flutman threw against BHRA (11-1) was intercepted, leading to an early 7-0 lead for the Blue Devils. Chicago Christian responded by scoring 34 straight points and BHRA did not score again until the final play of the game.
First-year coach CJ Cesario was not surprised to see Flutman shake off the early mistake.
“He was wonderful,” Cesario said. “He should not have thrown that ball and he knows it, but it’s the way he battles back and then makes plays.
“He’s elusive. He’s an athlete. He’s a gamer. He’s stepped into so much confidence, and when he’s confident, man, he makes really good decisions.”
Flutman threw a 5-yard TD pass to Jared Hall and then hit Van Dellen for TDs of 26 and 27 yards as the Knights built a 21-7 halftime lead.
“Christian has great leadership,” Van Dellen said. “He just picked us up and led us back. He was great on defense, too. He’s just a great player.
“He’s someone I look up to a lot. He’s a great friend of mine. We’re very blessed to have him on this team.”
Jager’s 72-yard TD run and Flutman’s 69-yard scoring dash helped the Knights ice things in the second half.
“It’s amazing to be a part of school history,” Jager said. “We were confident we were going to have a good team, and we put in a lot of work over the summer.
“Right after our first game, we were like, ‘This is going to be something special.’”
Cesario, who was Mount Carmel’s sophomore coach last year, knew he inherited a great senior class when he took over for the Knights.
“These 13 seniors, almost all of them start both ways,” Cesario said. “It’s the most manly, tough thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I never did that.
“I have more of an admiration for them than even the things I’ve done in my life.”
For Flutman, the journey started a decade ago at teammate Brock Sperling’s house.
“We went to the same elementary school and we’d play football on the lawn,” Flutman said. “I kept begging my mom to play football, and she finally gave in.”
Flash forward to Saturday night, when Flutman was surrounded by a large group of fellow students and alumni on the field, celebrating school history.
“It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had, so far in my life,” Flutman said. “The whole community coming out here to support us, there’s nothing better than this.
“It’s just amazing.”
