Maddie, Aurora Christian roll
Don't blame Don Beebe if he wishes he could bank some of the points his Aurora Christian football team has piled up in the first two weeks for use next Friday against perennial power Marian Central.
The host Eagles followed the lead of junior quarterback Anthony Maddie, who tossed 5 touchdown passes in the first half to torch Chicago Academy 54-0 Friday night in nonconference action.
Senior wide receiver Andrew Cassara was on the receiving end of three of those scoring passes, but he also tacked on a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown to fuel the rout.
"This is the deepest wide receiver corps we have ever had," said coach Beebe, whose team has scored 102 points in the first two games. "We have four or five guys who can really play, and they are really young, but obviously our senior Andrew (Cassara) is the leader of that group."
Beebe was particularly impressed with a one-hand grab of a bullet pass on Cassara's first touchdown catch of 7 yards, and also a diving fourth-down, 12-yard grab to keep a drive alive.
"He's something special," Beebe said of Cassara. "That one-handed catch was unbelievable."
The other Eagle falling into the unbelievable category was Maddie, the transfer from Joliet Catholic whose arrival shifted heir apparent quarterback Grayson Roberts to a wide receiver slot.
Maddie was on target all night, connecting on 13 of 22 passes for 216 yards, and notching an interception from his defensive back slot.
"We tried to learn a lot this week and I feel like we did that," Maddie said. "The line has been blocking great the first two weeks, and we just want to continue what we are doing.
"Next week is going to be a lot tougher game, but we are just hoping we can stay together as a team and go out there and beat Marian," Maddie said. "Not a lot of people are expecting us to do that, but I think we can."
Even though Cassara was causing the most trouble for Chicago Academy (0-2), Maddie spread the wealth with his touchdown passes by connecting with Brandon Mayes on a 33-yard strike in the first quarter, and finding Chad Beebe in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Aurora Christian (2-0) notched its two other touchdowns on a 48-yard pass interception return by Sam Miller, and a 66-yard dash around end for running back Mitch Holtz in the third quarter.
The Eagles defense pressured Cougar quarterback Dustyn Velez into 4 of the 5 interceptions they snatched in the game. The Cougars had only one first down and 18 total yards for the night.
"We had to win these first two games, and we did," Beebe said. "But we've got our hands full because we are in a tremendous conference and we know that."
As for the early showdown with Marian Central, Beebe said, "Nobody is picking us and I wouldn't either, and we're the new kid on the block (in the Suburban Christian Blue Conference). We have to show that we belong, and we'll find out next Friday."
The Eagles will rely again on the potent combination of Maddie and Cassara, who had 5 receptions for 93 yards.
"He's doing a great job and making all of the right reads," Cassara said of his quarterback. "Our offense is doing so well, we have the highest confidence, and our defense is backing it up, too."