Scouting: Bartlett vs. Niles Notre Dame
Class 8A
No. 16 Notre Dame (5-4) at No. 1 Bartlett (9-0)
When: Friday at 7 p.m. at Millennium Field in Streamwood
Playoff history: Bartlett has reached the playoffs nine straight seasons. The Hawks have never advanced beyond the second round. Notre Dame is making its third straight playoff appearance and 10th overall. The Dons were the Class 5A runner-up in 1989.
Outlook: This first-round game presents an intriguing matchup between the prolific Bartlett offense and the stingy Notre Dame defense. The high-flying Hawks average 32.3 points and 350.7 yards per game. Senior quarterback Josh Hasenberg has completed 115-of-187 attempts (61.5 percent) for single-season school records of 1,663 yards and 18 touchdowns. His two senior receivers have breakaway potential: Cory Brown (43 receptions, 773 yards, 9 TDs) and Alex VanNess (44 receptions, 554 yards, 6 TDs). The Bartlett offense uses its tight ends, getting them the ball on screens and short-yardage routes. Junior Greg Partyka has 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown while senior Matt Pashawitz has 6 receptions for 75 yards and 3 touchdowns. If Notre Dame drops too many men into coverage, Bartlett can attack with the running game of senior Fabian Libreri (684 yards, 7 TDs) and Corleon Richardson (450 yards, 4 TDs). In all, the offense has gained 3,165 yards. "They are a very effective, very disciplined offense from watching film of them," Notre Dame coach Michael Hennessey said. "They don't make a lot of mistakes. They're multiple in their attack and they don't make it easy for you to prepare, that's for sure. But at this point that's what you expect, acknowledging that they're 9-0 and that they've played a tremendous schedule. It's quite a tribute to any team at this point to go through a season unbeaten, so we've got our hands full." The Dons, who play in the highly competitive East Suburban Catholic Conference, counter with a defense that has held opponents to an average of 9.6 points per game. Notre Dame has been tough against the run, thanks to defensive end Kyle English, defensive tackle Jack Thompson, outside linebacker Billy Hughes and inside linebacker Sean O'Hara, all seniors with experience. "They're a solid group and they're pretty big up front," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "They're a physical defense and they get off the ball real well. Our offensive line has a job to do." Offensively, the Dons attack mainly out of the no-huddle spread. Quarterback Eric Hennessey, the coach's son, has completed 126-of-185 attempts for 1,120 yards, 8 touchdowns. Notre Dame will throw the ball deep now and then, but this is an offense designed to take what the defense is giving, usually the underneath pass. Eric Hennessey's top target is senior Pat Lazzara, who coach Hennessey called the best athlete on the team. Lazzara also plays safety and returns kicks and punts. Junior tailback Julian Burgos has rushed for 630 yards. "They mix it up real well on the offensive side with a lot of short passes - hit, hit, hit, hit," Meaney said. "It's hard to blitz on them because they'll throw a swing pass or line up in trips where one guy does an out and the other two guys do slants. It's a good offense." The Bartlett defense bends but rarely breaks. The Hawks have limited opponents to an average of 12.3 points per game, led by linebackers Kyle Zelinsky and James Crain, defensive backs Steve Seeman and David Palma and linemen Joe Quartullo and Kyle Kirchoff.
Advancement: The winner plays round 2 against either No. 9 seed Palatine or No. 8 Fremd. A Bartlett-Fremd game would be at Millennium Field; the Hawks would travel to Palatine.