It's the Elite Eight for Bartlett
The Bartlett football team's historic season continues to set firsts for the program.
On Friday night, the Hawks advanced to the IHSA state quarterfinals for the first time with a 21-7 victory over Fremd in the second round of Class 6A playoffs at Millennium Field in Streamwood.
"It feels awesome. There's a first time for everything," Bartlett senior Kyle Zelinsky said. "We knew that we had something special as a senior class here. We're trying to prove that to everybody."
The top-seeded Hawks (11-0) remained unbeaten and moved into the quarterfinals on their third attempt. They lost second-round games to Lake Park in 2002 and Naperville Central in 2004. This is Bartlett's ninth appearance in the postseason. The Hawks will play on the road in the quarterfinals against the winner of today's game between No. 5 Warren and No. 13 Schaumburg.
"We're really excited," Hawks quarterback Josh Hasenberg said. "We just have to keep it going. One week at a time."
After Bartlett went three-and-out on the opening possession Friday, Fremd (8-3) had two chances to get a yard and a first down from the Hawks' 33. But Evan Wright and Mike Tauchman were stopped short, turning the ball over on downs.
The Hawks scored four plays later, also helped out by a 15-yard personal foul penalty. Hasenberg rolled to the right and found Greg Partyka coming across the middle for a 29-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter.
"It's a game of momentum, you get those ebbs and flows," Vikings coach Michael Donatucci said about Bartlett's defensive stand and quick touchdown. "That definitely got the momentum going the other way."
Bartlett, which keeps adding to its school-record win total with every victory, took a 14-0 lead 43 seconds into the second quarter. Hasenberg plunged in from 1 yard out to cap an 11-play, 71-yard drive.
The Vikings, who were aiming for their third consecutive quarterfinal appearance, had only 64 yards of offense in the first half. They took more than 7 minutes off the clock on the opening drive of the third quarter, but again turned the ball over on downs after Tauchman gained 1 yard on fourth-and-2 from the Hawks' 13.
Fremd cut the deficit in half to 14-7 when Tauchman hit Andrew Corso in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard score with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter with Bartlett trying to control the ball and run down the clock, the Hawks were forced into a third-and-23 from their own 38 after a holding penalty. Hasenberg again rolled to his right and threw the ball down field. Cory Brown stepped in front of a defender who was in position for the interception to made the reception for a 34-yard gain and the first down.
"I knew that he was going to cut back across. He came up with a spectacular catch," Hasenberg said of Brown.
Hasenberg finished the 6-minute plus drive with another 1-yard touchdown run to give Bartlett a 21-7 advantage with 2:58 remaining. Hasenberg was 9 of 13 passing for 162 yards, 101 going to Brown on 4 receptions.
The Hawks' Alex VanNess stopped any realistic hopes of a Fremd comeback with an interception with 2:39 remaining to seal Bartlett's advancement.
Tauchman was 9 of 25 for 170 yards and led the Vikings with 45 yards rushing. Corso had 4 catches for 70 yards. Zenon Kolakowski had 2 receptions for 92 yards.
Hasenburg only rushed for 17 yards on 13 attempts but had the two scores. Fabian Libreri led the Hawks with 65 yards on the ground.
"The kids are excited. Hopefully we can survive next week," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said.