Aurora Christian's big night was well worth the wait

What an exciting night at Aurora Christian on Friday. So much love and friendship was present at the ceremony that introduced the Eagles' first-ever football field - and an amazing one at that. I was fortunate enough to be there on that rainy night as the community gathered to celebrate what they called "God's Field."

The field was gorgeous and it drained after the never-ending flow of rain all day and night. My rubber boots, however, were put to the test AFTER the game. Because of the crowd, I had to park my car on the school's lawn (that served as a drainage spot for the water), just like everyone else who got to the game at 6 p.m. I was the last car parked at 10 p.m., and let's just say I found out where all that water went the hard way.

Regardless of the rain, the night couldn't have been any better for Aurora Christian, which defeated Rockford Christian Life 62-0.

Aurora Christian football coach Don Beebe is the type of man who never breaks his promise.

When the current seniors were on the Eagles' roster were in eighth grade, he told them by the time they were in their final year of high school, the school would have its very own football field.

"When I took the job 4 years ago, I thought it was going to happen that year, but things kept on fizzing out," Beebe said. "At the end of last season, I thought, man, if I don't take the bull by the horns and go talk to people and say we've got to go ... so I started talking to people, and the school said, "Whatever it takes, you guys go do it, we'll back whatever you do." So we assembled a team and put it together, and this is the result.

"For years, it was eating me up. I felt terrible if this group graduated and we got it next year or the year after. I would have felt bad if these boys didn't enjoy this, so it really couldn't have worked any better. That's God's timing in our eyes. He knew it was going to happen a long time before we did."

The result was a $1.5 million dollar facility with field turf and track. The whole project took less than a year for members of the Aurora Christian community to erect.

When the final project was unveiled Friday night for Week 3 of the season, the reaction was a positive one.

"It's astounding," said Don Davidson, the only athletic director in the history of the school. "It gives me goosebumps when I consider the humble beginnings of this school."

"We've been talking about this for years, and it's so great to be out here," added senior Luis Solorio. "It was hard to believe, but miracles do happen."

The festivities kicked off at 6 p.m. with the football team in a half-circle while different Aurora Christian patrons spoke to the crowd, who toughed it out in the rain. Countless thank-yous and prayers went out to those present. The speakers spoke of an anonymous donor, who put up $500,000 and told the community to match the rest. They did, and with the help of local contractors, craftsmen, the football team and even the kids and parents who served the workers food while they did their job, "God's Field" was created.

When Beebe spoke, he talked about a vision he had of someday seeing the practice field behind the high school that was covered in grass, rocks and weeds turn into a state-of-the-art facility. He wasn't even the head coach yet.

When the head coaching job opened up, and Beebe got the job, the vision came back and the promise was made. Years later, everything worked out. As late as Friday, last-minute alterations were made and things, like the track, were finished.

By 7 p.m., Aurora Christian ran out on the field for the first time. Just two minutes into the Eagles' game against Rockford Christian Life, Solorio made school history by scoring the first touchdown on a 39-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Roberts.

Lewis Gaddis and David Zielke followed with two more touchdown passes from Roberts, as kicker Jake Van Gilse made good on all his extra-point attempts.

As players, the experience was awesome. For parents, like Jordan and Grayson Roberts' dad, Doug, and Ralph Ubert, father of senior Andru, it was a proud moment.

"It's unbelievable," said Ubert, a former varsity baseball coach and general contractor of the field project. "We were talking about this when Ryon (his oldest son) was a sophomore, when Don (Beebe) first came here. So to see it done, to see my son out there is great, but to see what it's going to do is phenomenal."

"It was a night the kids will remember forever," Roberts added.

Shortly before 9:30 p.m., Aurora Christian notched its third win of the season. The student section, followed by the parents, stormed the field to celebrate the win. Thanks and praise continued to go out.

Van Gilse called everything "a blessing" and "incredible." Solorio, like everyone else, thanked God and all the workers, not to mention the past teams who were here before them. At the end of the night, Beebe said it was all for the kids and wants to thank everyone individually someday.

"I wish I could give them all a big hug personally," Beebe said. "I will. I'll get to each one eventually."

cbolin@dailyherald.com

Do you have a unique or fun idea related to high school football? Share your experiences with me at cbolin@dailyherald.com or via phone at (630) 955-3515.