Bartlett puts away Lake Park in UEC Valley 56-28
Bartlett's Andrew Puccini and Aaron Thabuteau may show no relation, but the two running backs might tell you when they're on the field, they're identical.
"When I'm out of breath, I got Thabuteau there to back me up," said Puccini. "When he's out of breath, I come in," said Thabuteau. "We're basically the same person."
They may have tested positive on Bartlett's first three plays. The duo would score two near-carbon-copy rushing touchdowns - Puccini a 67-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and Thabuteau a 64-yard run on Bartlett's third snap - to lead not just a rushing attack, but a rushing blast as Bartlett (3-2, 1-1) steamrolled Lake Park 56-28 in an Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division game at Millennium Field Saturday afternoon.
Puccini finished with 150 yards on 16 carries whereas Thabuteau finished with 91 yards on 5 carries. Bartlett amassed 391 rushing yards, 546 total and never looked back when the duo of Puccini-Thatbuteau put the Hawks up 14-0 with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter.
"We were jelling early," said Hawks coach Tom Meaney. "We saw some openings and we took advantage of it.
"We've been really stressing in practice is six seconds. Six seconds, maintain your block and I think we're getting there."
It did seem like the Hawks scored every six seconds in the first half, and at least on one drive, they did. Thabuteau added his second touchdown on a 15-yard run with 9:39 in the second quarter to cap a 12-play, 79 yard drive. Four minutes later on their next possession, quarterback A.J. Bilyeu (7-for-10, 130 yards) connected with a wide-open Zach Karys (111 yards receiving) over the middle for a 36-yard score. Bartlett went up 28-6 with 5:58 in the second quarter, but saved its best for last.
In the final 2:10, Bilyeu found Russell Martin for a 6-yard touchdown reception, making it 35-6. Bartlett would snatch its second interception 52 seconds later by Matt Konstanzer, then scored on a one-play drive, a Puccini 13-yard run, that took just six seconds. Bartlett scored on 6 of 7 drives and only punted once in the first half.
"We wanted everybody to get in and play," Puccini said. "It seems like everything is coming together."
Bartlett out gained Lake Park 347-147 in the total yards department in the first half. Bartlett's defense allowed just 42 first-half rushing yards.
Lake Park (0-5, 0-3) finished with 349 total yards and scored 22 points in the second half to foil some defensive stats for Bartlett. Quarterback Zach Gehant threw 2 touchdowns, one to Kevin Teglia for 29 yards and the other to James Sowa for a 40-yard score. Bartlett continued to answer as Bilyeu connected with Karys again over the middle for a 62-yard TD pass with 5:29 in the third quarter.
"We did our best our best not to let up, we knew that we're going to come out firing, and it worked out real well," Bilyeu said.
"Our receivers were getting behind their defensive backs, that was nice. (Bilyeu) is starting to make good decisions, finding people through the air and taking care of the ball," Meaney said.
And taking care of the ball was key, as Bartlett fumbled once, its only turnover in two weeks.