Scouting: Bartlett @ Neuqua Valley

Bartlett (1-2, 0-1) at Neuqua Valley (0-3, 0-1)

When: today at 7:30 p.m.

Last year: Bartlett 31, Neuqua Valley 28

Last week: Waubonsie Valley 21, Bartlett 14; South Elgin 28, Neuqua Valley 26

Outlook: Bartlett lost a close game in Week 3 game but played well overall against UEC power Waubonsie Valley, which restored some of the Hawks' confidence following the previous week's blowout loss to Crystal Lake South. "We definitely took a step up from the previous week and (the players) came on," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "They're working hard. They're going for 48 minutes and not stepping down. There's a tradition at Bartlett and they're working hard to uphold it. They were embarrassed a couple of weeks ago and they know it was close last week. If we'd just stopped a couple of breakdowns we would have been very successful." Three of those breakdowns on defense resulted in Waubonsie's 3 touchdown plays. This week the Hawks will face a Neuqua Valley team that has lost three games against good competition: Naperville North (28-21), Naperville Central (21-7) and South Elgin (28-26). The Wildcats run a dangerous spread offense, led by senior quarterback Joe Ippolito. Last week he rushed 26 times for 117 yards and 4 touchdowns and threw for 165 yards. "They must be the best 3-0 team in the state," Meaney said. " They look good on film and they do a lot of good things. They just were a bit snakebit, either getting beat late in a game or having a key turnover or having a special teams breakdown."