High school football: Capsule for Saturday's 3A semifinal
Aurora Christian
at Newman
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Roscoe Eades Stadium, 1608 Fourth Ave.
Radio: 1240 AM, 102.7 FM
Class: 3A
Conference: Aurora Christian 6-1, second in Suburban Christian Blue; Newman 9-0, first in Big Rivers
Last week: Aurora Christian 49, Winnebago 14; Newman 28, Wilmington 26
Aurora Christian playoff history: 11th appearance (21-9). Best advancement – champions in 2011 (3A)
Newman playoff history: 24th appearance (50-19). Best advancement – champions in 1990 (1A), 1994 (1A), 2004 (2A), 2010 (2A)
FYI: Aurora Christian is coached by former NFL player Don Beebe. … The Eagles are 2-0 in the playoffs against Big Rivers teams. They beat Kewanee 35-8 in 2011 and Amboy 32-26 in 2007 quarterfinal. … Eagles are 2-1 in semifinal games. … This is 11th straight playoff appearance for Eagles. … Newman is 6-1 all time in semifinal games. … This is its first appearance in Class 3A semifinal game. … Aurora Christian’s enrollment is 311. … Newman’s enrollment is 262. … Both schools have enrollments multiplied for being a non-boundaried school.
Key to game: The contrast of styles will be the focal point Saturday. Whoever controls the tempo of the game will ultimately have the best chance of winning. Aurora Christian will want to push the tempo with big plays in the passing game and turnovers on defense. Newman will want to slow the game down, controlling the clock with long, bruising drives.
On the horizon: Winner plays either Tolono Unity (11-1) or Greenville (11-1).
SVM pick: AC 5-0
Aurora Christian results
• Eagles 48, Chicago DuSable (4-5) 0
• Eagles 42, St. Edward (2-7) 10
• Eagles 56, Walther Lutheran (2-7) 0
• Eagles 55, Wheaton Academy (4-5) 7
• Eagles 41, St. Francis (5-4) 14
• Eagles 38, Marmion (4-5) 14
• Eagles 47, Immaculate Conception (7-4) 20
• Montini (10-2) 31, Eagles 27
• Eagles 69, Guerin (1-8) 0
Playoffs
• Eagles 49, Chicago Raby (7-4) 12
• Eagles 28, Immaculate Conception (7-4) 21
• Eagles 49, Winnebago (9-3) 14
Eagles stat leaders
Rushing
Joel Bouganon, 121-1,260, 18 TD
Brandon Mayes, 7-750, 6 TD
Passing
Ryan McQuade, 177-for-307, 2,748 yards, 38 TD, 13 INT
Receiving
Chad Beebe, 53 receptions, 870 yards, 13 TD
Cory Windke, 44-788, 14 TD
Brandon Mayes, 27-425, 3 TD
Newman results
• Comets 27, St. Bede (7-3) 6
• Comets 10, Morrison (6-4) 7
• Comets 30, Bureau Valley (4-5) 14
• Comets 28, Fulton (4-5) 0
• Comets 53, Riverdale (1-8) 6
• Comets 42, Kewanee (1-8) 0
• Comets 49, Hall (1-8) 14
• Comets 35, Erie-Prophetstown (5-5) 20
• Comets 13, Amboy (9-3) 6
Playoffs
• Comets 21, Erie-Prophetstown (5-5) 6
• Comets 26, Monmouth-Roseville (8-3) 14
• Comets 28, Wilmington (9-3) 26
Comets stat leaders
Rushing
Nick Rude, 177-1,148, 16TD
Brian Bahrs, 149-971, 13TD
Jake Snow, 75-572, 8 TD
Passing
A.J. Sharp, 15-for-37 301 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Nic Miller, 7 receptions, 170 yards, 2 TD
Maison Bittner, 5-111
