Coach Sly: State champs on Sullivan Road

Talk about leaving no doubt.

Aurora Christian had those Mt. Carmel boys in a 48-minute headlock on Friday night, pounding out a 34-7 win to take the 3A state title. Mt. Carmel has scored almost at will for most of the season, even in the semis last week, but the Eagles had a shutout going til less than five minutes remained and the outcome was a certainty.

If there's another team in the state that could be without 2 or 3 of its very top players and win a state championship game by four touchdowns, Sly would love to hear about them. That is amazing stuff in Sly's book, the way the Eagles carried on without some stud players.

This Eagles team was flat-out overwhelming at the 3A level, and probably could have competed pretty well up a level or two, especially if they were at full health. For all those people that don't like the multiplier, a program like Aurora Christian seems to be one that deserves to be bumped up a bit, no? Can you imagine Aurora Christian facing 2A teams throughout the playoffs?

Aurora Christian is a destination school for football-minded families, especially ones that are very religious, and especially ones whose son likes to throw or catch the football. Sly just hopes that ACS remains an option in the future, with those $ concerns still a factor.

Sly's never shy about looking ahead a little. Even without Maddie, this team could and should be monstrous again next year, people. You have guys like Mayes, Windle, (Chad) Beebe, Suttle, (Noah) Roberts, McQuade, etc., set to return. And Sly's guessing with a QB lineage like the Eagles have, they'll identify and develop a kid who can sling the rock a little bit.

Congratulation to the 2011 Eagles. You played great football on both sides of the ball, you overcame adversity and you played awesome football on the state's biggest stage.

Deserving state champions, no doubt about it.