After the Aurora Christian football team shredded previously unbeaten Sterling Newman, 41-7, in Saturday’s IHSA Class 3A state semifinal, Newman coach Mike Papoccia joked that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles went on to lose in the state championship game – if they were playing in Class 6A or 7A.

Or was Papoccia joking?

The Eagles have been a powerhouse program for most of coach Don Beebe’s nine-year tenure but have found another gear the past two seasons. Last year’s 3A state champion Eagles won each of their five playoff games by a minimum of 13 points, and with the exception of a competitive second-round win against Immaculate Conception, the Eagles are again turning this year’s playoff contests into
laughers.