Delsea QB reaches out to young diabetic

Quinn Collins knew it was important to give Jimmy Reardon some advice.

Collins is the Delsea football team's starting quarterback. Jimmy is a 7-year-old who lives in Franklinville and is a big fan of the Crusaders.

But Collins' message didn't have anything to do with football or sports.

It was more important than that.

"He's so young, I just wanted him to know that there was nothing he couldn't do," Collins said. "People have said that to me, and I wanted to make sure he heard that from me."

Collins, a junior, has Type 1 diabetes.

Jimmy, a second grader, has the same disease.

They got together last week at a Delsea practice, thanks to folks such as Delsea assistant coach Ronn Flaim; Janvier elementary school nurse Carol Montagnoli; and Collins' father, Joe.

Last Friday night, Collins met with Jimmy and his 9-year-old sister, Ava, and tossed them some passes on the field before Delsea hosted Paul VI in a West Jersey Football League game.

Jimmy Reardon got to spend the game on the sideline. He even got to perform the coin toss.

"And we won the toss," Collins said.

After the toss, Jimmy stayed at midfield even as captains from both teams ran back to their sidelines and officials took their positions.

"He was starstruck," Jim Reardon said of his son. "He was soaking in the Friday night lights. Ronn Flaim had to go out and get him."

Collins grabbed Jimmy Reardon and had him stand next to him during the national anthem. He also made him a promise.

"I told him if I scored a touchdown, I would give him the ball," Collins said.

It had not been an easy start for Delsea. The two-time defending Group 3 sectional champions and one of South Jersey's most accomplished programs, the Crusaders lost their first three games, thanks to some inexperience at key positions.

Collins was one of those inexperienced guys.

"First game, I definitely had jitters," Collins said.

But the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Collins has improved every week, according to veteran Delsea coach Sal Marchese.

"It's not easy to run our offense," Marchese said. "He was an inexperienced guy, like a lot of our guys. But he's gotten better and better.

"He's a great kid. Just the way he deals with his situation, like it's no big deal, tells you about his maturity and responsibility level."

Collins ran for a touchdown in a Sept. 19 loss to Camden. He ran for 71 yards and another touchdown in a Sept. 26 loss to Timber Creek, the No. 3 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings.

And against Paul VI, Collins ran for another touchdown as the Crusaders registered their first win of the season, beating the ninth-ranked and previously undefeated Eagles, 24-21.

"I think that turned our season around," Collins said.

According to Jim Reardon, it was one of the best nights of his son's life. He got to meet a varsity player with the same medical condition, flip the coin, stand on the sideline, and see his new hero make good on a promise.

After Collins' touchdown, the Delsea athlete ran to the sideline, grabbed a practice ball, and presented it to Jimmy.

"That was magic," Jim Reardon said.

Jim Reardon said he and his family were overwhelmed by the experience and by Collins' generosity.

"To see a young man like that go out of his way for a little guy, it was something else," Jim Reardon said, his voice choking with emotion. "I can't tell you how much it meant to us."

Collins said he was happy to help. He knows the issues involved in dealing with the disease - he has to check his blood sugar regularly and wears an insulin pump - but he also knows that it can be managed.

"I just can't eat a whole cake or nine slices of pizza," Collins said. "I actually think I'm stronger and more conditioned because I watch what I eat, no extra carbs, no extra sugar."

Collins said he wanted Jimmy Reardon to know that his condition can be controlled and that he should not consider himself limited in any way.

Collins also had a request of his new friend.

"After they won, Quinn said to Jimmy: 'You're coming back next week, right?' " Jim Reardon said. "Jimmy wouldn't miss it."