Wilmington concerned about Aurora Christian's offense

Deliberating time and day of their second-round Class 3A playoff game, Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe offered up Friday night.

Wilmington coach Jeff Reents counter-offered.

"I just need another day to get ready for your offense," Beebe said Reents told him.

Though No. 2 seed Wilmington (10-0) has 15 straight playoff appearances under its belt and Reents is 147-41 over 17 seasons, playing in the Interstate Eight the Wildcats don't quite see the likes of Aurora Christian's spread offense.

"It's definitely a different challenge for us in what they run," Reents said Thursday. "We've had teams spread us out, but they've got great players in those spots."

There's a second reason that, unfortunately, an extra day probably won't help.

The Wildcats' two-way all-stater Jeremy Bailey (several top Wildcats pull double duty) has been out since Week 8 with a back injury. As of Thursday morning, Reents said the running back-linebacker won't face No. 6 seed Aurora Christian (6-4).

As Beebe pointed out, Wilmington went into 8-0 Sandwich without Bailey and won 34-14. The Wildcats opened the playoffs with a 55-26 win over No. 7 seed Winnebago. In the three games since Bailey went down wingback Steve Lairomatis hasn't run for less than 130 yards.

Fullback Jayson Conlin has run for more than 500 yards on the year, and quarterback Ty Anderson has passed for more than 600 yards.

"It's a typical double-wing year for us that we really like," said Reents, facing Aurora Christian for the first time in Beebe's seven years.

"They want to be third-and-short, we want them to be third-and-long," said Beebe, who has defenders like Sam Miller, Todd Clapp and Kenny McCracken that faced Marmion's even more powerful ground attack. "If we can force that, our chances of winning this football game will be a whole lot better."

The less Wilmington's offense is on the field, of course, the longer the Eagles' offense is. That proved toxic for No. 3 seed Oregon. Aurora Christian clipped the Hawks 38-0 behind Anthony Maddie's 296 yards passing and 6 touchdowns, 2 apiece to Chad Beebe and Andrew Cassara and 1 each to Grayson Roberts and McCracken, who added 15 tackles.

The victory followed one of Aurora Christian's poorest outings, a 39-7 loss to St. Francis. This roller coaster scenario has been at times maddening to Beebe, but at least his boys know when to shine.

"When their backs are against the wall they've responded every time this year," Beebe said.