Aurora C. rolls into quarterfinal matchup vs. Driscoll
Aurora Christian jumped out to a quick two-touchdown lead and then was able to hold off a determined Coal City team, and survive a couple of debatable calls on the goal line, to advance in the Class 4A playoffs with a 28-20 victory Saturday night in Aurora.
Leading 14-7, the Eagles (11-0) were driving to extend their lead early in the third quarter when running back Lewis Gaddis burst up the middle and stretched the ball for an apparent TD. But the ball came loose and was ruled a fumble that the Coalers (7-4) recovered.
The Aurora Christian defense responded by forcing a quick three-and-out and Matt Morse returned the punt to the Coalers' 27-yard line. Quarterback Jordan Roberts found Morse in the end zone a few plays later and the lead was 22-7 after a 2-point conversion.
"I thought that was a huge point in the game," said Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe. "We could have really let down. We knew it was a touchdown, I didn't let the players get discouraged. We were still up, we went out and stopped them and got it back in just a few minutes, that was big."
"I was across with the ball in the air and then my hand hit the ground and the ball popped in the air,' said Gaddis. "I think that play really set the tone for the rest of the game because the whole team got mad and we came out with great intensity and that made us step up to the plate and answer and go hard."
The Coalers had an answer of their own when a botched squib kick by the Eagles gave them the ball at the Aurora Christian 43-yard line. Quarterback Colt Smith hit Bobby Kroeger on a short crossing pattern that Kroeger turned into a 38-yard gain to the AC 5-yard line. The Eagles defense seemed poised for what is becoming a habit of making goal-line stands but Smith was able to just break the plane on fourth down just before his knee was down to cut the lead to 22-13 after Luis Solorio not just blocked but caught the PAT.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles put together what would prove to be the game-winning drive that again featured something that is becoming a habit for the Eagles - going for it on fourth down. After Gaddis (27 carries, 128 yards) did most of the heavy lifting to get the ball down the field, he converted a 4th-and-1 from the Coal City 21. Three plays later it was fourth down again and Roberts rolled right and hit Zac Copple in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard TD, Roberts' third of the game.
"We used Matt Morse as a decoy, sure enough two guys were with Matt," said Beebe. "Copple is a crafty guy and I told him to get open in the back of the end zone and I told Jordan to make sure and look for Zac and, I'll tell you, he made a phenomenal throw on the run with a guy hanging on him."
Coal City answered when Smith hit Nick Green with a 10-yard TD pass with 5:27 to play to make it 28-20 but the Eagles were able to run out the clock.
The victory by No. 1 seed Aurora Christian sets up a game with No. 4 seed and seven-time defending state champion Driscoll next week. Driscoll defeated Mendota 14-7 earlier in the day.
"It will be great," said Roberts. "Everyone knows they are a seven-time state champion and we'll have to work hard this week, more than ever, and come out with great intensity. We're going to come and fight, it's going to be an awesome game."
"We knew Driscoll won this morning, obviously we're following that," said Morse. "For them to come in here is going to be a big football game, I can't wait, it's going to be huge. It's going to be a crazy week. People have always been telling me we're 9-0 but we don't play anybody but now we have the best team in the state coming in here and I can't wait."