SCC Blue challenge awaits Aurora Christian

Be careful what you work for.

Aurora Christian's unbeaten Suburban Christian Gold Conference title in 2009 earned a promotion to the large-school Blue division.

How tough is that? Defending Class 5A state champion Montini - which beat Aurora Christian 41-8 last season - went 1-3 in the Blue, its only conference win coming against 1-8 Aurora Central. For a team with an eight-year playoff run like the Eagles, that's cause for concern.

"Let's not pull any punches, we've got to win five games," Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe said. "Unlike other years, we've got to look one game at a time. We've got to win those first two (nonconference games with DuSable and Chicago Academy). It's an absolute must."

Before panic strikes Sullivan Road, Aurora Christian has several factors in its corner.

Yes, Beebe lost speedburner twins John and Sheldon Magee, by far their leading offensive forces in 2009, in a transfer to Plainfield South.

But whereas the Magees and returnees like Mitch Holtz and Nate Jensen comprised a 2009 squad Beebe felt was his fastest team, "this one beat it," he said.

"This is our fastest team, this is our biggest team and this is our strongest team in the weight room," said Beebe, whose sophomore son, Chad, will play receiver and defensive back. "But we're very young at the skilled guys and very old on the line."

"Old" prep linemen are good to have. Beebe is high on seniors like 243-pound Dean Parr, Todd Clapp and Sam Miller, two-way horses with Miller's 81 tackles at linebacker ranking third last year.

Beebe also highlighted the line's smarts - Clapp has a 4.11 grade-point average, Jon Mangan 4.08 - and the overall team chemistry.

Character became essential when Joliet Catholic quarterback Anthony Maddie transferred in - Beebe's "best athlete I've ever coached" runs 40 yards in 4.62 seconds and leapt 36-inches high as a freshman - to play in a spread offense.

Controversy and bitterness could have festered. Grayson Roberts started at quarterback all last season as a sophomore, as did Maddie for the team Montini beat in the 5A championship.

"It's a tough pill to swallow" for Roberts, Beebe observed. But for the team's benefit Roberts decided to "be the best wideout I can be," Beebe said.

"I've had no more respect for any player I've ever coached than I have for Grayson Roberts," Beebe said.

Now Aurora Christian jumps to the most respected "small-school" conference in the state. Rough, but Eagles don't back down.

"We're excited about the competition level," Beebe said.