By Harold Raker
From a fan's perspective, there is nothing like watching a high school team that can score points in bunches, and in a variety of ways.
But while the fans are watching a talented quarterback like Mount Carmel's Marcus Wasilewski completing a pass to Matt Moroz, fullback Julius Demetrius breaking tackles on the way to a big gain, or tailback Justin Pellowski outrunning the defenders, guys like Zach Lutz quietly go about their business.
Public address announcers don't often mention their name and they are only singled out when they commit a penalty.
Lutz conceded that blocking in an offense as intricate and varied as Mount Carmel's can be difficult and that he would prefer to run-block.
"Mentally it is a little bit taxing, but you eventually get into a rhythm and once you figure everything out, it's all good," the 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior tackle said. "It helps you a lot offensively because it keeps the defense on their heels and gives you the edge."
As for run-blocking, he said, "You can really get after somebody. Pass blocking you have to be more passive and make sure the defense stays away from Marcus, run-blocking, you get to go out and hit them as hard as you can."
But Lutz said the linemen take pride in what Wasilewski has done (1,789 yards passing with 25 touchdowns this season).
"We take a tremendous amount of pride in protecting one of the best quarterbacks in the state. If we can block and keep him upright, and as long as we give Marcus his time -- he is a great passer -- we know he is going to make the throws to his wide receivers," Lutz said.
Coming up in organized football, starting as a member of the Jets A' team in the midget program in seventh grade and into high school, Lutz was an offensive and defensive player, at a number of positions.
For the last two years, Lutz, son of Stephen and Kathy Lutz, Mount Carmel, has concentrated on playing offense, specifically the strong-side tackle position. He has loved every minute of it.
"I like offense better than defense and playing one way is also very helpful," Lutz said. "It keeps us all fresh. We are all conditioned and we are not wearing down in the fourth quarter."
Also helpful to Lutz has been classmate and all-state candidate Chris Steck, the Red Tornadoes' outstanding 6-2, 255 center.
"He has helped me a lot. He is really intelligent. He is the leader of our offensive line. He does all the calls, he helps whenever somebody is confused by a play, he makes sure they know what the play is," Lutz said.
Mount Carmel coach Mike Brennan said that Lutz and Steck have been the team's most consistent linemen. The coach said that, had it not been that some of the best linemen play the same position, Lutz would have been selected first-team instead of second-team on the first Heartland Athletic Conference Division II all-star team. The first-teamers were Steck and Southern Columbia senior Chase Fraley.
"(Lutz) is an all-star caliber kid, a super kid, a great student, a respectful kid and a hard worker," Brennan said.
Brennan added, "Zach does anything you need him to do. He works his tail off in the weight room in the offseason."
Lutz cites that work ethic as the reason for the Red Tornadoes' success this year. Mount Carmel is 12-0 going into Friday's District 4 Class AA championship game against visiting Montoursville.
"It is our dedication to hard work. We have spent four years lifting, running and training in order to play up to this level, to play at a championship level," Lutz said. "It is through that dedication and hard work that we are able to play as good as we are."
He added, "I am not surprised at all (by this year's 12-0 record). I've seen the hard work this entire team has put into the off-season, lifting four days a week, running on the soccer field, doing 120-yard sprints, it was a tremendous amount of work. We had the talent and the dedication and the will to succeed," he said.
Brennan said Lutz has willed himself to be a good player through his work in the weight room and added that he is a naturally strong kid who benches 345 pounds.
But the coach added, "The biggest improvement this season has been his footwork. He worked extremely hard at that. He was determined that it would be a priority for him and he spent a lot of time jumping rope and controlling his weight so he would be able to be more athletic this year as a senior, and he certainly has done that."
The Red Tornadoes are motivated to take on Montoursville because it was the Warriors who ended their season with a 3-0 win in the district quarterfinals last season.
For Lutz, there is even more incentive. "Unfortunately I didn't play in the Montoursville game (last year) because I had an injury on my hand. This is definitely extra motivation, and they ended our season last year, they took something from us and we want to go out and recapture it."
Knowing that Montoursville's line is the biggest the Red Tornadoes will face, bigger than Selinsgrove or Southern Columbia, Lutz said. "I am not worried about their size. We just have to play our game, that's all we have to do."
And Lutz would like to play the game beyond high school. He is awaiting word on whether he will get an Air Force ROTC scholarship and is looking at Penn State, Pittsburgh and Wilkes universities. "I know I won't play football at Penn State or Pitt, but if I can get into Wilkes, I would love to play there, and play at a higher level."
For now, Lutz and his teammates have only one goal in mind: to beat Montoursville and advance to the next round of the state playoffs.
