Late in the fourth quarter of Aurora Christian's 37-28 state title game loss to Bloomington Central Catholic, Eagles coach Don Beebe (left) made an interesting coaching move.
Here's the situation: AC is down nine points with 29 seconds to go. They are facing 2nd-and-2 from the BCC 22-yard line. At that point, Beebe decided to send out the field-goal unit. ON 2ND-AND-2!!!!
Jake Van Gilse's 39-yard attempt came up well short and wide left, clinching the state championship for BCC.
I know exactly what Beebe was thinking. Down two scores, he absolutely needed points on the next play, one way or another. If you get points, you go for the onsides kick and still leave yourself enough time for a couple more plays to try for the second score.
If this had been pro football, I would have agreed with this decision 100 percent. A 39-yard field goal is easy pickings for the millionaires in the NFL. I've seen some pro coaches grab the field goal first in late-game situations where they are down by two scores, and I've liked that strategy every time I've seen it.
But I don't like it here.
You see, unlike the NFL, a 39-yard field goal is a low-percentage play in the high school game. You are counting on 17-year-old kids to execute a snap, a hold and a kick with the season on the line in the outdoor elements of Champaign's Memorial Stadium. I can't blame Van Gilse for the miss. Frankly, I thought the kid had no chance of making that kick.
To me, you let quarterback Jordan Roberts take a shot for the end zone in that situation. If you get the TD on the next play, there's still enough time left for the onsides kick and a couple more plays to try to score again.
Roberts threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns in the losing cause on Friday. In addition, he is one of the most prolific passers in the history of Illinois high school football.
Roberts' skilled quarterback play and leadership were the biggest reasons for the 13 straight wins Aurora Christian collected this season. On that final play, I would have rolled the dice on Roberts' arm over the field-goal team. Maybe that arm had one more big play left in it. We'll never know.
Granted, a whole heckuva lot would have had to go right for Aurora Christian to wiggle its way out of that late 9-point deficit. I just don't see how going for the field goal right there gave the Eagles the best opportunity to do that.
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