Don't blink or you might miss Aurora Christian

If Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe questioned his team's chemistry over the summer, he got an answer mid-August in Norway.

Norway, Ill., that is, where Beebe took the Eagles to a retreat center to focus on football and bond. A 4-hour bonfire capped the three-day camp and cemented results.

"It's really cool to see lives change and relationships grow," Beebe said.

Change and growth will be the Eagles' two operative words this fall. From a 2008 team that won the final Private School League championship, snapped Driscoll's 37-game playoff win streak and took its only loss at the Class 4A championship, Aurora Christian graduated 1,200-yard rusher Lewis Gaddis, 317-pound nose tackle Pete Kariotis and record-setting quarterback and All-Area co-captain Jordan Roberts. What's more, Kane County's 2008 receptions leader, all-stater Matt Morse, is concentrating on baseball.

Linebacker Dylan Smith is the lone returning defensive starter. Smith, tackles Matt Wilger and Dean Griffing and guard David Benson return as starters on offense.

A man of Beebe's faith sees this glass as more than half full.

"I think everybody believes in the theory that success creates success, and for (the returners) to have a taste of it last year... just opened up the eyes of some of these kids that they want to create something, too."

Starting with a few cases of whiplash. Beebe said this is the fastest team he's coached, with six players at sub-4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He also noted this 3-5 defense may be his smartest.

Donald Patterson, who ran for 206 yards as Gaddis' backup and ran the 40 in 4.59, should combine with the experienced offensive line to establish the West Coast offense. Right with him on the stopwatch are the twin brother receiver duo of Sheldon and John Magee, providing what Beebe calls his top group of wideouts.

Following Jordan Roberts at quarterback is... sophomore brother Grayson Roberts, heady with a big arm.

"He has worked as hard as any athlete I've ever coached," Beebe said of Grayson Roberts. "He's just like his brother in a lot of respects. And he can really throw the football."

Joining three-year varsity linebacker Dan Earwood, other names Eagles fans will get to know include linebacker Sam Miller, defensive end-receiver Matt Luckman and cornerback Nate Jensen.

"We had a great camp," Beebe said, "and I think that's hopefully going to build into the season."