Aurora Central Catholic High School officially annouced it’s Football schedule for the 2012 season. The Chargers will once again compete in the Suburban Christian Gold Division in 2012. The schedule features three playoff qualifiers in 2011, including one IHSA State Champion. For the third consecutive season, the Chargers will play 5 games in the friendly confines of Bob Stewart Field, where they have gone 7-3 over that span. At this point in time, all games are scheduled for Friday Night kickoffs.

The Chargers will open the 2012 season on Friday, August 24th, as they host Pontiac High School. The game will mark the first ever meeting between the two schools. The Indians are coming off a 4-5 season in 2011, that coming on the heels of a 9-0 regular season in 2010. Last season was injury plagued for the Indians, who started the year 3-0, but sputtered the rest of the way. Pontiac, historically, is a very strong football program having qualified for the playoffs in 16 of the last 19 years, including two appearances in the State Championship and one title in that span.

Chicago Senn High School will round out the non-conference schedule for 2012. The Bulldogs, members of the Chicago Public Illini (Heartland) conference, will make the trip to Aurora to kick off Labor Day weekend.

“I think we have improved our non-conference schedule a bit,” ACC Head Coach Brian Casey said. “Pontiac is a very strong program, and has been that way for some time. They always are a physical football team, and will be a tough test for us out of the gates. Both teams will challenge us in different ways, both will prepare us for the ever tough SCC.”

For the second season in a row, the Chargers will open conference play by hosting Immaculate Conception on September 7th. The Knights beat up the Chargers 42-0 in 2011, and hold a 2-13 overall record in the series. The Knights return the 2011 SCC Gold “Offensive Player of the Year”, quarterback Demetrius Carr. Carr lead the Knights into the IHSA Playoffs, and finished the season 6-4.

Back to back roadtrips greet the Chargers in weeks four and five. First, the Chargers will make the commute to Palos

Running Back Brian Bohr returns in 2011 to help the Chargers, as they look to qualify for the IHSA State Playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Heights for a September 14th contest with Chicago Christian. The Chargers defeated the Knights 38-12 on Homecoming last season. Chicago Christian has never beaten Aurora Central Catholic, the Chargers have won all 16 meetings. The following weekend, the Chargers will travel to St. Edward. The Green Wave finished 2011 one win short of qualifying for the playoffs. The last time the Chargers played at Greg True Field was in 2007, when the Chargers used a 38 point second half to comeback and beat the Green Wave 52-36.

“We have not been out to St. Edward in a while, this will be the first time we have played there with the permanant lights,” Casey said. “Coach (Mike) Rolando has done a great job getting that program up and moving again. We really are using that blueprint as the bar for what we are doing here at ACC.”

Homecoming 2012 will be held on Friday, September 28th, as the Chargers will host Walther Lutheran. The Broncos and Chargers series history dates back the PSL days, with ACC holding a 10-6 overall advantage in the series. However, the Broncos won a back and forth contest last season 28-26 on a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Walther Lutheran will return arguably the most versatile player in the SCC Gold in RB/WR/DB Najee Toomer. Toomer rushed for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns last season against the Chargers, and finished the season with 13 total scores. Senior Night will follow as the Chargers host Guerin Prep on Friday, October 5th. Guerin upset the Chargers last season 18-15 on a rainy night in 2011.

The Chargers will take to the road the final two weeks of the regular season. First, Aurora Central Catholic and Marmion Academy will renew their rivalry on Friday, October 12th at Fichtel Field. The Chargers and Cadets have not played since the 2009 season, due to the SCC expansion. Marmion holds a 10-16-1 series record against the Chargers. The last ACC win in the series was in 2007, a 27-21 come from behind win. 

“It will be great to be able to play them again, and restart the rivalry,” returning running back Steven Amoni said. “They are a good team, and have a lot of great players, it will be fun to play against them.”

Week 9 will feature a match-up with the reigning three-time defending IHSA Class 5A State Champion. The Chargers will travel to newly renovated John Duffy Stadium on Friday, October 19th for a date with the Montini Broncos. For head coach Brian Casey, and assistant coaches Tom Kero and Tom Costantini, it will mark the first time they will return to their alma mater, and be on the visitors sideline. Montini has qualified for the playoffs 19 consecutive years, and has won four state championships in that span.

“We are really excited about the overal schedule and the way it shapes out,” Casey said. “We know we are going to have some challenges, and that is good. I think when you evaluate the talent we have coming back and the individuals who gained a bunch of experience last year, we have every reason to be upbeat and optimistic about what we have in front of us. It will be fun!”