Huskies take down defending champs

■ Aurora goes for 2, gets thrilling 23-22 win in 2OT

by Kurt Johnson

The Aurora Huskies opened the 2008 season in dramatic fashion Friday, upending defending state champion Crete 23-22 in a double-overtime thriller.
A classic Class B battle hinged on a number of snaps that could have qualified as the “play of the game,” but the last one went Aurora’s way when quarterback Tyler McDonald threw an I-back screen pass to Jerry Lobeda on a two-point conversion for the game-winner. Coach Randy Huebert said the decision to go for two was unanimous.
“The whole coaching staff wanted to go for the win and we were really confident with that particular play,” he said. “I’m just so proud of our kids I can’t say enough.”
The Big Red wouldn’t have had a chance to go for the win, however, without a goalline stand in the first overtime. The Huskies couldn’t score and the Cardinals had a third and goal from the 2, but were stuffed right at the line with the strength of Aurora big men saving the day.
With the ball resting within a shadow of the goalline on fourth down, Crete chose to kick a fieldgoal. Senior Chris Sullivan raced around the right end untouched, laid himself out and smothered the ball, giving the Huskies new life.
“Chris has been working on that in practice and that’s just an athlete making a great play,” Huebert said. “That goalline stand and blocked kick was one of the best series I’ve ever seen as a coach.”

For complete story see this week's issue of the Aurora News-Register.