Scouting St. Charles East @ Bartlett
St. Charles East (4-2, 4-0)at Bartlett (2-4, 1-3)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. today
Last year: Did not play.
Last week: St. Charles East 21, Waubonsie Valley 14 (OT); South Elgin 17, Bartlett 14.
Outlook: This should be as physical as it gets. Bartlett has always been a punishing squad, and now on the cusp of playoff elimination that will add bite to this Upstate Eight Conference contest. While St. Charles East was winning in overtime last week to remain tied for the conference lead with Lake Park, Bartlett saw a 14-0 third-quarter lead vanish in the rain. The Hawks' defense held South Elgin without a first down until 3:35 remained in the third quarter when the roof fell in. That should lend more inspiration to coach Tom Meaney's players, who despite their record have outscored opponents 113-108. Tight end Greg Partyka, at 6-3, 235, has tools, and the Hawks have a good running attack with Andy Puccini and Aaron Thabuteau, both juniors. "Bartlett puts three backs in the backfield and they want to pound you," St. Charles East coach Mike Fields said. That should suit St. Charles East defensive linemen Jon Voytilla, Jess Streidl and Andrew Carrano just fine. All had fine games last week. Streidl caught the winning touchdown pass in overtime - the only completion by fellow hero Nolan Possley - and helped Bryce Barry make the fourth-down stop that ended the game. There were several players of the week for the Saints, including the ground games enjoyed by Possley and 5-10, 240-pound fullback Andrew Gomez, and Dan Keller's 32- and 33-yard field goals (long-snapper Kevin Russell executed a tough job), Keller tying the game as he lay on his back after slipping on the mud field. After watching film, Fields said, "It's never as bad as you think, and it's never as good as you think," referring to 8 fumbles and schematic stuff like secondary coverage and scraping off double-teams. But Possley also recovered a Waubonsie fumble, and both Barry and Matt Payne - just healthy enough to make it back at safety - made interceptions. The Saints' plan is to again run the football behind horses Andrew Bradburn, Mark Lindholm, center Charles Ratajczak, Rafael Flores and Eric Olstad, and overcome the wrath of the defending Upstate Eight champions, a 2008 Class 8A semifinalist. "We'll have to be prepared for anything and everything," Fields said.
Next: Neuqua Valley (2-4, 2-1) at St. Charles East, Oct. 16; Bartlett at Thornwood (1-5), Oct. 17.