Roberts leaves with armful of records

Aurora Christian's Jordan Roberts completed 27 of 55 passes for 365 yards and four scores Friday.
(Heather Eidson/Staff photographer)

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On the biggest stage in Aurora high school football history, Jordan Roberts asserted himself as perhaps its biggest star, capping a four-year career with a title game for the ages.

He would trade it all for what Bloomington Central Catholic walked away with, but how appropriate that this state's greatest passer set or tied four individual Class 4A championship game records and two more IHSA career marks Friday night in Champaign.

The Eagles senior caught fire after an adrenaline- and incompletion-filled first quarter, finishing with 4A title game records for completions (27), attempts (55), yards (365) and tied the record for touchdowns with four.

"I knew he was zoned in right away. I could see it," Eagles coach Don Beebe said. "I was telling the coaches, 'Guys, he's going to have a great game. I have to put the ball in his hands and if we lose, I'm going to lose with him having a phenomenal game because right now he could single-handedly win this thing for us.'"

Saints coach Bobby Moews, whose own quarterback threw for more than 300 yards and two scores, couldn't believe what he was seeing from the guy wearing No. 10 in red.

"They pass blocked us better than anybody has all year," Moews said. "He just sat back and threw darts all night long."

On the drive that brought ACS to within a score late in the game, there were three signature plays by Roberts. On fourth-and-the-season with just six minutes to go in the game, he zipped a pass to Matt Morse for a first down. Then on second-and-12 from the Bloomington Catholic 29 he was pressured to his right, only to hit David Zielke for a 17-yard gain by throwing across his body. The drive was capped with style, as he dropped in a fade to Morse off his back foot.

The score made it 30-28, but the Eagles weren't able to turn back the Saints' own powerful offense on their final drive.

"If you score 28 points in a championship game, you should win, in my mind," Beebe said. "We just couldn't get that part done."

Roberts' record-setting night wasn't limited to the 48 minutes on the field at Memorial Stadium. He broke the all-time IHSA record for attempts in a career and tied the career record for 200-yard passing games.

In all, Roberts set six career passing records and tied another this season in leading the Eagles to the greatest season by any team in city history.

People talk about the records and all that, but I would take away those records if I could have won a state championship (Friday)," Roberts said. "Without a doubt."

Through it all, he has remained humble. Unlike many kids in his position, he couldn't recite a single stat total — not even when after he was told what records he just broke, or was about to break. It never mattered to him.

In the immediacy of a team defeat, he wasn't about to bask in glow of astounding individual success either. But I have a feeling in two weeks, in January or on college signing day in February, he won't either.

"I'm honored to be up there," Roberts said about the record book." He then thanked God, and Beebe. But especially his teammates.

"I wouldn't trade them for anybody," he said.

It was a wonderful ride, Jordan — and I don't think anyone would trade that, either.