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Aurora Christian heads into playoffs on a roll
Mary Beth Nolan~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 21, 2011 11:33PM
They’re separated by less than a mile in geographical distance.
On the football field, the gulf is pretty wide between Aurora Christian and Aurora Central.
The host Eagles wasted little time showing the renewed rivalry who’s boss, as quarterback Anthony Maddie threw for 274 yards with five touchdown passes while also rushing for 150 yards and an 83-yard touchdown in a 49-6 blowout victory Friday night.
“You always want to be on a roll heading into the playoffs,” Eagles’ coach Don Beebe said. “Last week, we knew we were facing a team (St. Edward) that needed to win to get in and this week we’re facing our rival that also had to win to get in. I told these kids we needed to win to get momentum.”
Maddie found Grayson Roberts on a 5-yard route to open the scoring, moments after a botched Aurora Central fake punt deep in its own territory.
Maddie made it 14-0 not long after with a couple jukes in space and a sprint up the right sideline for his long score.
“Coach Beebe always tells me if things aren’t open to take off and run and try to get positive yards,” Maddie said. “I feel like tonight I did a nice job of knowing when was the right time to take off and run and make some plays with my feet.”
Chargers’ quarterback Kyle Clechenko fumbled the opening carry of his team’s next drive, and one play later Maddie found Chad Beebe on a 25-yard post for a three-score lead.
Aurora Central wide receiver Anthony Andujar took a handoff in from 15 yards for the Chargers (4-5, 1-4 SCC Gold) only score, but from there the Eagles (8-1, 5-0) kept attacking.
Maddie to Beebe for touchdowns of 16 and 41 yards. Maddie to Cory Windle from 33 yards out.
Beebe, back in the lineup after missing most of the year with a broken collarbone, caught seven balls for 140 yards.
“It’s so nice having Chad back, especially getting a game under our belts together heading into playoffs,” Maddie said. “It just gives us a lot of confidence. It adds another element to the passing game with his quick routes and quick moves.”
Clechenko had 63 yards rushing for Aurora Central, while Luke Dickerson had 73, but the Chargers will miss the playoffs.
“It was a great season though,” Clechenko said. “My teammates are a great bunch of people and it was fun sharing a locker room with them, playing on the field with them.”
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