Bartlett takes to the air to down Batavia

Based on Bartlett's passing totals through its first three games, Batavia expected the Hawks to run the ball consistently in Friday's Upstate Eight Conference crossover game at Millennium Field in Streamwood.

However, Bartlett, which entered the game averaging 112 yards through the air, surprised the Bulldogs with a passing attack that riddled the defense for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 40-22 victory.

"Unfortunately, we had a tough time dealing with their passing game, which is something we did not expect coming in," Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said. "We know they're a big, physical, strong football program and we were going to have to deal with the run. To their credit, they threw the ball really well on us. That was really the difference in the game."

Bartlett junior quarterback A.J. Bilyeu completed 13-of-18 attempts for 277 yards and 2 touchdowns. His top targets were senior tight end Russell Martin (6 receptions, 126 yards, TD) and junior receiver Zach Karys (4-99, TD).

Bartlett (2-2) scored 4 touchdowns and amassed 314 of its 428 total yards in the first half. The Hawks took a 26-7 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Unlike in Week 3, when the Hawks turned the ball over five times in a 17-6 loss at Waubonsie Valley, they played the entire first half turnover-free and fumbled the ball away just once in the second half, when Bilyeu was sacked by Batavia junior Cole Gardner.

"We've been preparing ourselves for the pass since the summer," Bilyeu said. "It was always there. It just kind of clicked for our offense. Last week we had 5 turnovers and it just destroyed us. All week all that went through our minds was 'no turnovers on offense.' I think we did a good job."

Batavia started fast. The Bulldogs stopped Bartlett's first drive on downs at the Batavia 36-yard line, then drove the length of the field in 8 plays. Emund Kabba (12 carries, 96 yards) capped the march with a 16-yard run on a draw play.

Bartlett owned the rest of the first half. The defense forced 2 punts, recovered a fumble and intercepted Batavia quarterback Noel Gaspari, and the offense scored on each of its next 4 possessions.

The Bilyeu-to-Martin connection was particularly effective. The pair hooked up in the first half for passing plays of 31, 34, 10, 12, 26 and 13 yards. A 6-foot-3 volleyball player who didn't come out for football as a junior, Martin used his size to his advantage against Batavia's smaller defensive backfield.

"Right when I saw them I kind of knew," Martin said of his matchup advantage. "But A.J. with his great passes was key."

A 41-yard swing pass from Bilyeu to Nate Massey put Bartlett at Batavia's 27-yard line. On the next play, running back Andrew Puccini ran over one Batavia tackler and evaded another for a 27-yard scoring run to tie the game.

Bartlett took a 14-7 lead after driving 79 yards in 10 plays, capped by Puccini's 1-yard plunge with 8:28 left in the second quarter.

Following a Batavia punt, Bilyeu dashed 35 yards on a scramble and scored on a bootleg keeper on the next play to give the Hawks a 20-7 lead.

"If someone's not open, he can take off running," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said of his quarterback. "That was big for us tonight and it was big for him to come out and do that for a change." Bilyeu rushed 9 times for 69 yards.

After Bartlett's Danny Pawlus recovered a fumble at his own 42-yard line, the Hawks used 7 plays to take a 26-7 lead. After a timeout, Bilyeu threw a perfect fade pass to Martin, who made a leaping catch over a defender with 57 seconds left in the first half.

"They went over our guys and made plays," said Gardner, who finished with 2 sacks and a tackle for loss. "They outschemed us. We were thinking run, run, run. We worked on it all week. We knew they were going to throw the ball, but not as well as they did."

Batavia (2-2) cut the deficit to 26-14 early in the third quarter on a 36-yard touchdown run by Kabba, but the Hawks answered with more passing. Bilyeu connected with Karys for a 29-yard play and found him again two plays later on a post-corner route for a 46-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs fired back with a 15-play drive, which culminated in a 7-yard run by Austin Lindquist, pulling them within 33-22 with 4:30 left in the third. However, Bartlett's Aaron Thabuteau put the game out of reach on the next play with an 88-yard kickoff return.

"If you want to make the playoffs, this was very important," Meaney said. "Otherwise, your back's against the wall."