Roberts enjoys ride with Beebe at Aurora Christian

Jordan Roberts began his football playing days at quarterback as a seventh grader.

Five years later, it's safe to say that Roberts made the right position choice.

As an eighth grader, Roberts was left with a difficult decision - which high school would he attend?

"Basically, I had two options - Yorkville or Aurora Christian," said Roberts. "I just went through my eighth-grade season and it was Coach (Don) Beebe's first year there at Aurora Christian.

"Aurora Christian went to the state (Class 1A) quarterfinals that season."

Knowing that it was a touchy subject in Yorkville due to the fact that several students chose to attend Aurora Christian coinciding with Beebe's arrival as head coach in 2004-05, Roberts tried to keep a low profile during the selection process.

He wound up choosing Aurora Christian - and the rest is history.

"I felt that Aurora Christian offered me the best opportunity both as a person of faith and as an athlete," said Roberts.

It also didn't hurt that the Roberts family attended the same church as the Beebe family.

"I'm so glad that I chose Aurora Christian," added Roberts. "I'm so thankful to get to play under him (Beebe)."

Considering that Roberts became the state's career touchdown passing leader (98) during the Eagles' 42-28 Homecoming triumph over Private School League rival Chicago Christian on Sept. 26, it's clear that Roberts made another good choice.

"One advantage is that Jordan's a person of faith who chose to attend a private Christian high school," said Beebe. "Another is that he's been able to start at quarterback for four years.

"If he attended another high school it probably would not have been the case."

With the graduation departure of all-state quarterback Nate Peterson, who tossed 79 TD passes during his junior and senior seasons (2003-2004), Roberts' timing also couldn't have been better.

"I don't remember every detail about it," Roberts said of his freshman season. "But when I stop to think about it I'm grateful for the great opportunity I got."

Another huge plus for Roberts - playing for a head coach who experienced pretty much everything imaginable during his own playing days at Kaneland High School, Western Illinois University and Chadron State College - all the way to the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.

"It's a big advantage having coach Beebe as my coach," admitted Roberts, who will try to reach the 100-TD passing mark Saturday afternoon when the Eagles visit Luther South. "I wouldn't be where I am today without him.

"You definitely listen to him - he's been to the top. He's played with quarterbacks like Brett Favre, Jim Kelly and Frank Reich. In nine years, he played in six Super Bowls."

While the Eagles' schedule annually includes favorable matchups against Rockford Christian Life, Luther North and Luther South, Beebe feels that has actually hurt Roberts' career passing numbers.

"I think it has been a disadvantage for him to play Rockford Christian Life and the Luther schools," said the coach. "Last weekend against Chicago Christian, he was able to play the whole game and he threw the ball 42 times.

"Against some of those other teams, he throws 12-15 passes and we take him out of the game at halftime or call strictly running plays because we don't want to be accused of running up the score."

Playing at a smaller school has also discouraged a few college recruiters despite Roberts' 6-1, 204-pound frame and lofty numbers - 7,728 career passing yards and 98 TDs.

"From a college recruiter's perspective, it has been a disadvantage," said Beebe, who doesn't agree with that kind of thinking.

"I could see it if you're a lineman at a smaller school because you're not going up against 250-pound kids - you're up against 170-, 180-pounders.

"But when you're a quarterback, colleges are looking at your footwork, reads, dropbacks, throws. If you have the ability to be a quarterback, it doesn't matter if you're at a 1A school or 8A school."

Roberts wholeheartedly agrees.

"It's true that we don't face teams like Joliet Catholic, Wheaton Warrenville South or Maine South, but if you can throw, you can throw," said Roberts. "If you can play quarterback, you can play quarterback.

"When you're at a smaller school, you have to dominate out there."

With a chance to surpass the 10,000-yard and 120-TD pass career mark, I'd say that Roberts has been dominant.

One other thing is certain - Roberts will graduate Aurora Christian next spring with his name etched in the IHSA record book.

"It's a great feeling and very humbling experience," said Roberts. "Out of all the great quarterbacks I've seen and who have won state championships, my name is on top.

"I thank God for giving me the opportunity."

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