Interception spells beginning of the end for Eagles

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

WINNEBAGO — Aurora Christian's season may not have ended on a deflected pass that wound up in the hands of Winnebago linebacker Michael Sojka, but the turnover late in the first half of the Indians' 28-14 Class 3A first-round victory over the Eagles proved the catalyst for that end.

Already trailing 13-0 and with starting quarterback Grayson Roberts knocked out of the game, the Eagles had a first-and-10 from their own 10. Sheldon Magee, who had not played under center all season, tried to throw a safe dump pass into the flat. But Winnebago defender Matt Hamel deflected the ball, sending it into the waiting arms of Sojka.

Four plays later Sojka ran it in from 1 yard out to give the Indians (8-2) a 21-0 with seconds left in the first half.

"That was huge," Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe said. "I thought that was probably the play of the game. Going into halftime only down two (scores), we're OK. But going down (three), that's tough."

The game got away from the Eagles in the second quarter following a scoreless first. Winnebago dotted the scoreboard early when Dylan Daub took a double reverse in from 11 yards out and a 7-0 lead.

Aurora Christian went three-and-out on its next possession, and the Indians took advantage. Following a third-and-9 conversion, the Indians scored two plays later on a 32-yard run by Sojka (79 yards, two touchdowns).

Not including the reverse by Daub, the Indians running backs only had four runs of 10 or more yards.

But the Eagles defense could not get off the field despite putting the Indians in several second- and third-and-long situations.

"It was horrible," Magee said. "We thought we had them and then out of nowhere they'd get more yards."

While the Indians pounded away at the Eagles defense, the Aurora Christian offense was virtually nonexistent until late in the third quarter. The Eagles recorded just three first downs the entire first half and running back John Magee (86 yards rushing, 78 receiving) was bottled up on a slick surface.

Only after Sheldon Magee's fourth series at quarterback did the offense find a rhythm. He directed a 12-play, 56-yard scoring drive to pull Aurora Christian within 21-6 early in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles executed a perfect onside kick following the score and the ball bounced off a Winnebago up-man, but in the scramble the Indians' Joey Bronkema wound up with the ball.

Although the Indians were forced to punt on that possession, it halted any momentum the Eagles might have gained. Aurora Christian's next three series ended on a punt, fumble and interception.

"We just didn't get our momentum going right. That was the game," Sheldon Magee said.

After the interception, Winnebago added an insurance score on a 38-yard run by Seth Gustafson (128 yards).

Sheldon Magee found his brother John for a 14-yard score with 38 seconds left to make it 28-14.

Sheldon Magee finished 6-of-18 for 98 yards passing with two interceptions.