Bartlett looks to get revenge on South Elgin
Bartlett (1-2, 1-0) at South Elgin (2-1, 0-0)
Game time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Bartlett 27, West Aurora 7; South Elgin 10, Lake Park 7
Last year: South Elgin 21, Bartlett 7
TV: Comcast Game of the Week to be shown on CN100 on delay Sunday at noon and 4 p.m.
The annual rivalry game between District U-46 sister schools will go a long way toward determining the Upstate Eight Valley champion.
Expect a chess match between two sharp coaching staffs with plenty of senior leaders on their respective rosters.
South Elgin's multiformational offense forces opponents to prepare for quad receivers, trips, double-twins, two-back sets, stacked receivers, motion and jet sweeps, among other things.
"It's a lot of stuff to prepare for and they have a five- or six-headed monster running it with all those good receivers and (running back Shawn) Griffin," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "We like to tell our kids to do one thing if a team lines up a certain way and do another thing if they line up another way, but it's tough to do that with certainty this week because of all their different sets."
South Elgin has been playing five seniors both ways nearly full time: wide receiver/defensive backs Andrew Kamienski and Derek Kumerow and linemen Mike Ribando (6-4, 250), Matt Zimmerman (6-4, 285) and Brian Medina (6-5, 225).
Coach Pat Pistorio has settled on senior Jake AmRhein as his quarterback moving forward.
Less than a year after he tore his ACL in a late-season home game, AmRhein has completed 44 of 77 pass attempts for 592 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has been intercepted twice.
Kumerow has 20 catches for 344 yards and a touchdown.
Griffin has rushed 30 times for 235 yards and a score.
Bartlett has tried a variety of defensive tactics thus far, including press coverage by its secondary against West Aurora.
"Last year they gave us a big-time cushion with four defensive backs at 10 yards and beyond," Pistorio said. "We're ready for both. If they do press, we'll take advantage of our opportunities, though the farther the ball travels the less likely it is to be complete. Our offensive line is bigger than their defensive line. We've never had that situation against Bartlett. It's usually the other way around."
The Hawks counter offensively with 6-foot-2 quarterback Brenner Wallace (57 of 93, 713 yards, 5 TD, 3 Int.). Two-way player Nolan Bernat has rushed for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns in 56 attempts.
Defensively, last week Bernat moved from safety to cornerback.
Next week: Neuqua Valley at Bartlett; Larkin at South Elgin
West Chicago (0-3, 0-0) at East Aurora (1-2, 0-1)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The quick hit: Having allowed 62 points in each of its last two games, West Chicago needs to stop somebody. Aiding that cause, quarterback Alex Turney and Jacob Wiegele look to establish offense against a Tomcats team Glenbard East put 56 points on.
West Aurora (1-2) at Elgin (0-3)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: A rivalry that dates back to the 1890s is renewed. Elgin continues to work hard in hopes of its first win. "We prepare every week like we're playing the best team in the state," coach Anthony Mason said. "Our guys are committed." The Blackhawks need to cut down on turnovers and run the ball more effectively. Changes have been made on the offensive line. "We're averaging 3 yards a rush and that's unacceptable with the talent we have in the backfield," West Aurora coach Nat Eimer said.
Larkin (0-3, 0-1) at Streamwood (1-2, 0-1)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: Two U-46 schools clash with both needing a victory. The balanced Larkin offense averages 347 yards and 15 points per game, but its young defense allows an area worst 474 yards and 39.6 points. "They've got some guys who can take it to the house, so we have to keep everything in front of us," Streamwood coach Don Guindon said.
St. Charles East (1-2, 1-0) at Batavia (3-0, 1-0)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: The Saints, fresh off their first win, visit the four-time defending Upstate Eight River champs. Batavia wants to avoid another slow start like last week at Larkin when the offense fumbled early before hitting stride. Batavia senior running back Zach Garrett (255 yards, 6 TD) sat out against Larkin but resumed practice this week and is expected to play, coach Dennis Piron said.