Scouting: Stillman Valley at Aurora Christian

By Dave Oberhelman

Stillman Valley

at Aurora Christian

Game time: 7 p.m. Froday.

Last year: Stillman Valley 46, Aurora Christian 16 (Class 3A quarterfinals).

Outlook: A huge step up for Aurora Christian from last year’s season opener, DuSable. Don Beebe’s Eagles host one of the state’s small-school elite, which advanced to the 2009 3A championship game, losing a 22-20 squeaker to Illini West. The Cardinals finished 13-1 last year, and in coach Mike Lalor’s 13 seasons Stillman has won four state titles, including consecutive 2A championships in 1999-2000. They enter the season ranked fifth in 4A. The dangerous trio of quarterback Dane Green, halfback Nate Bond and star fullback Adam Cox all graduated, but Lalor returns halfback Eric Boettcher — who also starts at defensive back in the 5-2 set — and two-fifths of the offensive line that played in last year’s title game. Stillman Valley also returns defensive back Jake Wold and lineman A.J. Dobson, who made 6 and 9 tackles, respectively, in last year’s championship with Dobson netting 3 tackles for loss. Beebe says he likes to play as strong a schedule as possible and at least in Week 1 he’s got it. The Eagles are no slackards, however, and could very well vie for a title themselves. Western Michigan-bound quarterback Anthony Maddie, a Class 3A all-state honorable mention selection — Stillman had no representatives, undoubtedly because Lalor didn’t attend the selection meeting — did not have a strong outing against Stillman, completing 15 passes in 36 attempts for 192 yards, a touchdown pass to returning back Mitch Holtz, and 2 interceptions. Aurora Christian certainly won’t be outmanned on the offensive line, not with Julian Sosa, R.J. Morris, Roman Czerwinski, Josh Kok and Nick Larson all topping 200 pounds. Yet they must move the feet against Stillman’s quickness to provide Maddie the protection to hit receivers Grayson Roberts, Chad Beebe and Brandon Mayes. Defensively, 165-pound Quienten Boston is tiny at nose tackle, but he’s a great, quick disrupter. Two challenges to stopping Stillman are playing disciplined, assignment defense, and after a series of run plays avoid getting suckered in when the Cardinals attempt the inevitable long pass.

Next week: Stillman Valley at Wauconda, Sept. 2; Chicago Academy at Aurora Christian, Sept. 2.