Andrew’s Camden Maniatis felt empowered by the new possibility that opened up before him.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior quarterback, a former running back and slot receiver, was excited about being entrusted this season with orchestrating the Thunderbolts’ triple-option attack.
“The team needed a quarterback after our starter graduated, so I stepped up and took the role,” he said. “I’ve got a great offensive line, strong blocking and the coaches have put in a solid scheme.
“We just keep learning how to get better every week.”
Maniatis is coming off one of his best games Friday night, scoring three touchdowns in a 52-0 victory over Hammond Central from Indiana. It was Andrew’s third win in the last four games.
Since his breakout performance Sept. 19 in a 42-40 win over Waubonsie Valley, Maniatis has demonstrated a perfect blend of poise, pocket presence and natural leadership capabilities.
Maniatis’ emergence for the Thunderbolts (3-2, 1-1) hasn’t been wholly unexpected either, according to senior receiver Jameson O’Reilly.
“When he told me he was going to play quarterback, I was really excited because I knew he could do it,” O’Reilly said. “We spent a lot of the offseason coming out to the field, working together on timing and passes, really just trying to get everything down.
“When we played Lincoln-Way West, that was really our first time passing a lot, and he targeted me seven times. All seven throws were right on the money. One of them was a big fourth down where we converted. I ran a post and he hit me perfectly over the middle.”
The position change might feel sudden to Maniatis, but Andrew coach Adam Lewandowski envisioned this moment six years ago when the budding QB took part in team camps.
“I knew his family, I coached his older brother and I watched him growing up playing,” Lewandowski said. “I knew by the time he was a seventh grader, playing quarterback was what I wanted him to do. It was just a process of getting him ready.
“When he was younger, we needed him to play a lot of different positions. I always knew I wanted to see him at quarterback, and I’ve known that for six years.”
Even if playing the position at the high school level was technically a new experience, Maniatis had inside information on the intricacies of the triple-option offense.
“What helps me is that I know every position on the field and what each player is supposed to be doing,” he said. “That makes it easier to run the offense. I’m comfortable in the pocket.
“I love keeping it myself, running up the middle, rolling out, slinging it. Dropping back and reading defenses is something I’ve been getting better at — it’s surprised me how much I’ve improved.”
In the offseason, Maniatis was serious about preparing for the role. He enrolled at QB Era, the quarterback and wide receiver training facility in Willowbrook, where he works out every Sunday.
He took the plunge, immersing himself in the smallest details.
“When I first went, I couldn’t even throw a proper spiral,” Maniatis said. “The coaches taught me how to spin the ball and now I’m throwing tight spirals consistently.
“For me, being a quarterback is about leadership and urgency. I love having the ball in my hands, being able to control the offense and making plays.”
By his own admission, Maniatis sometimes misses playing receiver or running back. But in an offense predicated on timing and deception, he holds the cards.
“I’m bold and I’m courageous,” he said. “I’ve always had that playmaker mentality, but I’ve put in a lot of work in the offseason to become more agile and improve my game.
“At the end of the day, I love running the ball, but I also love throwing to my receivers because I know the routes will work. I can read the defense and trust what I see.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.