Scouting Hoffman Estates at Bartlett

Hoffman Estates (0-9) at Bartlett (3-6)

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Millennium Field, Streamwood

Last year's opener: Bartlett d. Hoffman 47-0

Outlook: Both teams have things to prove in a game that had to be moved to Saturday because of a scheduling conflict. Hoffman has experience and looks to snap a 16-game losing streak as it avoided the rash of injuries that included QB David Gutierrez and K-P Niko Crambes days before the opener. "As long as we're healthy we're poised to make some noise," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "It was a snowball effect last year and Week 1 wasn't the way we wanted to start. Enough guys went through that and know what it takes right now." Bartlett missed the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons with four losses by 18 total points but junior QB AJ Bilyeu (967 yards passing, 5 TDs, 10 INTs), junior MLB Mike Partyka and senior RB-S Aaron Thabateau (536 yards, 3 TDs) are back to battle for the title in the new Upstate Eight Valley Division. "I expect us to be champions," said Bartlett coach Tom Meaney, whose 2008 team made the 8A semifinals. "That's what we're here for, to win the thing."