Aurora Christian eyes repeat
The stock question for Don Beebe, coach of defending Class 3A state champion Aurora Christian, would be: What to do for an encore?
“I think the only thing we can do is repeat,” he said.
The Eagles may be in position to do just that regardless of their new alignment in the rugged Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division.
Though Aurora Christian graduated All-Area honorary captain Anthony Maddie and the 69 touchdowns he accounted for, Beebe returns nine players with starting experience on offense, and seven on defense. Two of those returners, his own son, receiver Chad Beebe, and running back-safety Brandon Mayes, have committed to play football at Northern Illinois.
What’s more, the rich got richer with the arrival of another NIU commit, Joel Bouagnon. The Illinois High School Association cleared his transfer from Burlington Central on Tuesday. In 2011 the 224-pound senior ran for a Fox Valley-leading 1,446 yards and 15 touchdowns, and would provide dynamite offensive options along with Mayes, who ran for 744 yards and 6 touchdowns. At outside linebacker in 2011 Bouagnon made 92 tackles, 12 for loss.
This makes Aurora Christian more of a handful for even SCC Blue foes Marmion, St. Francis, Marian Central and Montini, the three-time defending Class 5A champion.
The Eagles return five receivers all with starting experience in their spread offense, most notably Cory Windle, who caught 61 passes for 1,317 yards and 19 touchdowns; and Chad Beebe, to caught 38 passes for 655 yards and 8 TDs in essentially an injury-shortened, 5-game season. Add in Brandon Walgren and Ryan Suttle and it’s a tough enough depth chart that even junior Noah Roberts, who caught 24 passes for 530 yards and 5 TDs, does not crack the initial starting lineup.
The offensive line will require a little retooling with juniors on the right side opposite returning starters Josh Kok and Eric Motisi at left tackle and guard, respectively.
“We have a lot of kids who can really play, and I just think we’re trying to find the right chemistry to make up that (starting) five group,” said Don Beebe, who noted he’s got up to 10 players who can contribute up front.
At quarterback, 6-foot-4 Ryan McQuade enters after backing up Maddie the past two seasons, though he only attempted 4 passes in 2011. More a pocket passer than the scrambling Maddie, McQuade merely has to diagnose defenses, get the ball to the right folks and let them do their magic. Beebe compares the cerebral McQuade’s form to that of former Eagles quarterback Jordan Roberts.
“He’s looked very good,” Beebe said of McQuade, whose leadership abilities won him the role. “I’ve been very pleased with how he’s progressed this summer. I think he’s going to have a good year.”
Defensively the strength starts up front, where 2011 offensive lineman Nick Larson heads full-time to the 3-5 alignment to join returning starters Kok and Jonah Walker, who made a respective 59 and 42 tackles.
Suttle — whose 13 tackles for loss head all returners — and Walgren comprise the exterior of the probable starting linebacker corps, Bouagnon in the middle.
Mayes, who with Bouagnon’s arrival may be free to specialize on defense, simply cleans up at safety. A returning all-conference player along with Windle, last season Mayes’ 117 tackles trailed only the graduated Kenny McCracken’s 139.
Depth is supplied by players such as linebacker Jackson Carpenter, colorfully named cornerback Legend Smith and Marmion transfer Victor Rosa, another linebacker. Beebe’s even thrilled about kicker Trevor Hills, who nailed a 52-yard field goal in practice.
Aurora Christian has the players to succeed. In Beebe’s mind, a title bid comes down to chemistry and cohesiveness.
“There’s no pressure,” he said. “It’s a new group every year in high school. We are fortunate to have a lot of kids back from last year’s team. Ironically we were a pretty young team.”