Aurora Christian tops Coalers

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AURORA -- This wasn't how Coal City High School wanted the football season to end.

Despite falling 28-20 to Aurora Christian in a Class 4A second-round game on Saturday, the Coalers did not go down without a fight.

"I'm very proud of the team," Coal City coach Lenny Onsen said. "We started out 2-2 and the guys could have folded the tent. But they continued to improve throughout the season and made the second round of the playoffs.

"We revamped some things and turned things around."

Led by quarterback Jordan Roberts, the Eagles (9-2) built a 14-0 lead. Roberts, the state's career leader touchdown passes, threw a 1-yard TD pass. He then guided Aurora on a 99-yard scoring, concluding it with a 1-yard run.

The Coalers (7-4) scored with 7:34 remaining in the first half on Kevin Gabehart's 3-yard run. That completed a 6-play, 80-yard march to the end zone. A 42-yard run by Bobby Kroeger (15 carries, 77 yards) to the 3 set up Gabehart's TD.

Coal City pressured Roberts, who finished completing 16-of-27 passes for 165 yards. The Coalers sacked Roberts three times in the first half.

Both teams scored in the third quarter. Trailing 22-7, Coal City narrowed the gap to 22-13 with 1:24 remaining in third-quarter play.

A clutch 38-yard pass from Colt Smith to Kroeger advanced the ball to the Eagles' 1 where Smith scored.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound Smith also had a good day. The junior completed 13-of-20 passes for 139 yards and no interceptions.

"Colt has shown good improvement all season," Onsen said. "We have him back for next season and that's great.

"We expect him to have an even better year as a senior. He'll continue to get better.

"Our seniors did a good job. We do return some players and hopefully we'll do well again."

With 4:02 left in the game, Coal City narrowed the gap to 28-20. Smith found Nathan Jensen on a 10-yard touchdown pass to complete a 9-play, 61-yard scoring drive.