Eagles' Magee brothers bring flash, substance

It's hard to live up to hype. That's why it's called that -- it usually means you can't. And there weren't two more hyped athletes in the Aurora area this year than Aurora Christian's Sheldon and John Magee.

The twin brothers, junior transfers from Plainfield South, were billed as speedsters -- great athletes who would help the Eagles offset the loss of nearly their entire 2008 state runner-up team. Their numbers to this point proved that, but what Friday night's 48-31 victory over previously unbeaten Wheaton Academy (3-1, 1-1) proved was that the Magees aren't all style.

The brothers aren't the biggest kids -- John is 5 feet 11 inches, 152 pounds and Sheldon is 6-0, 163 -- but there is substance in their runs. While they will look for an opportunity to cut around a defender, they're not shy about lowering a shoulder, throwing a stiff arm or flat out running someone over.

Their confidence is amazing, too.

Often at this level you see speed backs rely too much on their quickness, hopping around like crickets rather than hitting holes. Such indecision leads to as many losses as gains. But in just their third game in the Eagles' system, the Magee brothers have the utmost confidence in their offensive line and hit the holes hard.

As first-year varsity players, they know this type of running will allow them to showcase their strength -- you can't be an open-field runner if you're not in the open field.

John established himself as one of the top running backs in the area with a masterful performance, carrying the ball 28 times for 234 yards and four scores. He's a go-to running back, much like Michael Ratay was for Geneva last year. Whether it's fourth-and-1 or second-and-10, he can convert.

Eagles coach Don Beebe must be loving this. These kids give him so many options on offense.

In the passing game, the Eagles (3-1, 2-0) used Sheldon as a security blanket for sophomore quarterback Grayson Roberts.

Utilizing short passes and screens, Sheldon was put in space by Beebe and allowed to create with his legs. He caught three passes for 53 yards, and his 31-yard touchdown reception was as spectacular catch and run as anyone could hope to see on the high school level.

After taking in Roberts' quick throw at the 31, Magee accelerated and decelerated at video-game speed and at the 17 he found a cheat code, causing a Warriors defender's legs to just buckle like he took a couple of knuckle punches in the quadriceps. And as that defender face-planted into the turf grabbing nothing but a breeze, Magee shot around the left side and wormed his way into the end zone.

For the game, Sheldon finished with 41 yards rushing, four catches for 74 yards, more than 70 yards in kick returns and an interception.

Beebe isn't afraid to talk up his athletes, but the superlatives he uses to describe the Magees' athleticism isn't hyperbole: the kids are that good.

All eyes will be on them on Sept. 26 when the Eagles travel to Montini in their first Suburban Christian Conference crossover game. But that's next week. This week the Magee brothers surpassed the hype in a big game and established themselves as the standards for the running back and receiver positions in the area.