Hawks claim victory over Glenbard N.

For the first time in his career as Bartlett Hawks head coach, Tom Meaney can say his team is legitimately 1-0 after defeating last year's Class 8A state runner-up Glenbard North, 28-21, Friday night at MillenniumField.

"I was here the first time we were 1-0, but we didn't play a team," Meaney said of a forfeit win seven years ago. "It feels good."

The game came down to two plays as the Hawks were clinging to a 21-14 lead with the Panthers in a fourth-and-inches spot at the goal line.

With Panthers quarterback Evan Watkins keeping the ball on a sneak, the Hawks' goal line defense made the stop for a turnover on downs.

"We just put three big guys in the middle and figured there'd be a QB sneak," Meaney said. "That was big."

While the Hawks were unable to score on the possesion, they received a gift on the punt as the Panthers fumbled the ball with Jayson Blendowski recovering giving the Hawks great field position with 20 yards to the end zone.

The Hawks later scored on a 9-yard touchdown run by Fabian Libreri for the game-winner.

Josh Hasenberg gave the Hawks a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with a 32-yard TD pass to Alex VanNess while later scoring on a 12-yard run.

Hasenberg went 14 of 16 in the first quarter giving the Hawks a 21-7 lead at the half with his second TD pass, this one 6 yards to Cory Brown.

"We were just clicking," Hasenberg said. "What it comes down to is the offensive line. They gave me plenty of time."

"Obviously we made mistakes," said Panthers coach Ryan Watkins. "But they're a good team. Their coaching staff called a great game."

The Panthers did have one more chance in the final minutes, but the Hawks ended the game on a fourth and goal stop at the 10-yard line with 29 seconds remaining.

Watkins did throw a 50-yard TD pass in the second quarter to Andrew Ngyuen as well as a 39-yarder to Mike Carev in the third and a 21-yarder to Mike Stasevich in the fourth.