Small, but powerful

So, you want to play linebacker?

OK, chew on this Bartlett play…

… The ball is snapped and out of their stances fire three blockers: quick left guard Pat Bauers (5-foot-11, 240 pounds), massive left tackle Mark Alagna (6-4, 280) and athletic tight end Greg Partyka (6-3, 220).

If you're still upright after attempting to devour that triple stack of beef, try digesting the second course -- the lead block of 6-1, 265-pound senior Myles Griffin, a fullback who hits linebackers harder than week-old pizza hits the stomach.

Already, it's enough to give any tackler nightmares, not to mention indigestion.

Just when the defender is ready to step back from the table comes a heaping portion of senior running back Vinnie Libreri.

Standing all of 5-8, 165 pounds, Libreri looks more side dish than main course, yet this featured back has gobbled up 1,280 yards on 187 attempts (6.8 yards per carry) and has scored 14 touchdowns heading into tonight's Class 8A playoff game at Glenbrook South.

Buuuuuuurp!

"He's not a real big kid, but he finds a way," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "For not being such a big kid, you rarely see him go down on the first hit. He usually bounces off the first hit and gains valuable yardage.

"He comes in on Saturdays and Mondays pretty beat up but he recovers quickly. That's what it's like for a back who carries 30 times a game or so the last seven games."

The Hawks settled into their identity in Week 2, when offensive coordinator Mark Williams began injecting opposing defenses with heavy doses of Libreri, balancing out the passing of junior quarterback Josh Hasenberg, who had thrown for over 300 yards in the season-opening loss against Glenbard North.

Libreri carried 16 times for 208 yards in a 33-22 victory over Oswego in Week 2 and toted the ball 22 times for 150 yards in a 7-point loss to Larkin in Week 3. The tone was set; Bartlett would mix it up behind a durable senior running back and a strong-armed junior quarterback.

Beginning in Week 5 against St. Charles North, Libreri's penchant for hiding behind bigger blockers until making his cut, coupled with his ability to pinball off tacklers after first contact, led to four huge rushing weeks in a row.

His breakout performance against St. Charles North included 214 rushing yards on 27 carries, highlighted by touchdown runs of 14, 20 and 29 yards in a 36-6 win that lifted Bartlett to a 3-2 record at the time.

"The St. Charles North game was definitely our best game," said Libreri, who made sure he credited his offensive linemen: right tackle Sean Matheny (Jr., 6-0, 200), right guard Gianni Pietanza (Jr., 6-4, 235), center Max Yep (Jr., 6-0, 245), senior left guard Bauers and senior left tackle Alagna.

"It was like no one could have stopped us that day," Libreri said. "Everyone was on the same page, everything was working perfectly because we were all executing."

Part of the reason for the Bartlett offense's success has been its unpredictability. The Hawks can run the ball (220 yards per game) and Hasenberg has thrown for a regular-season Bartlett record of 1,569 yards and 9 touchdowns.

"Together, we can make defenses scared," Hasenberg said. "When Vinnie's running all over them it works out for our passing game because they're forced to put eight or nine men in the box. That just opens things up for the pass. And if a team shuts down our passing, we can hand it off and get yards."

The results have been record-breaking. Local football fans have been mesmerized by the gaudy numbers put up by Larkin quarterback Cam Kinley this season, including 320 points. Meanwhile, Bartlett quietly scored 319. The previous school record of 298 points in nine games was set last season.

In fact, the Bartlett offense is averaging 394.6 yards per game and 6.8 yards per play, both school records. Not bad for an attack that previously threw the ball only when down and distance dictated a pass.

"Without a doubt this is the most explosive offense we've had," Williams said. "We thought we'd try to mix it up this season. With a good quarterback and good receivers like (Alex) Van Ness and (Cory) Brown, it's worked out real well. It's nice to be able to go to the run or the pass."

The greatest challenge for this offense comes tonight, when it will attempt to lead No. 13 Bartlett (6-3) to an upset in Glenview of No. 4 Glenbrook South (8-1).

To do so, the Hawks will have to take advantage of a defense coached by former McHenry coach Mike Noll that has surrendered 14.1 points per game this season.

It can be done, particularly if the Hawks carry through with the four steps stressed all season by Williams and quarterbacks coach Eric Ilich: focus, quick first step, play with intensity and execute.

"We want to go out there and show them what we can do," Libreri said. "Hopefully, it'll be enough to win and keep playing another week."

That's an idea these Hawks can really sink their teeth into.