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New QB Clippert heads Aurora Christian attack

Aurora Christian has had state-championship quarterbacks in Anthony Maddie and Ryan McQuade.

It's had a record setter in Jordan Roberts and a college-ready body in Austin Bray.

It may never have had a quarterback like Drew Clippert.

"He's just a unique player," Eagles coach David Beebe said of the 6-foot, 170-pound sophomore quarterback.

Clippert's a left-hander, a twist but not the key.

"He is a special player," Beebe said. "He does a lot of things very well, one of which is he throws the ball very accurately. He throws the ball very much on time and he makes very good choices. And he throws the ball very fast."

All these are pivotal in the spread offense under coordinator Don Beebe, the former head coach and David's brother.

A pocket passer, last year Clippert went from a backup on the freshman team to passing for 360 yards in his first start on the sophomore level.

"I think the last time I saw this kid not throw a spiral was in June," David Beebe said.

Aurora Christian's fortunes appear to go as Clippert and his teammates' overall learning curve will take them. The number of juniors and seniors totals 11, which isn't that low considering the preliminary varsity roster counts only 20.

"If I were to think of two things that are a weakness, number-one it's experience, number-two it's depth," said Beebe. Illustrating both, he'll start a freshman on the defensive line, 190-pound Jacob Piasecki, for the first time since the Beebes took over the program in 2004.

It comes in handy that one area he sees depth at is receiver, headed by juniors Dylan Leschewski and Brock Harner. Explosive senior running back Jeremiah Wright, an offensive reserve last year but second on the team with 62 tackles at linebacker, will get plenty of work.

Without Wright, Aurora Christian went 3-1 at the inaugural Aurora 7-on-7 tournament, tying with Marmion and host West Aurora but winning on a tiebreaker.

Also among Clippert's new best friends will be senior right tackle Zach Williams, protecting the passer's blind side.

Wright and strong safety Gerald Marrero, who made 46 tackles, are the sole returning defensive starters. Williams, defensive backs Luke Solatka and Nathan Dunsing and linebackers Alec Baumgartner, Noah Vollmer and Nolan Czerwinski - the third of three brothers spanning nine years in the program - got some time. The defense will need some reps under its belt.

Beebe said team chemistry is great. Like Clippert's quarterback skills, that'll be put to good use.

"When the going gets tough these kids really are going to gell together - and they're going to have to because they're young," Beebe said.

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