Scouting at Batavia at Bartlett

Batavia (2-1) at Bartlett (1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Millennium Field

Last year: First meeting

Last week: Waubonsie Valley 16, Bartlett 7; Batavia 41, Larkin 0

Outlook: This Upstate Eight Conference crossover marks the first meeting between these programs. The Hawks are feeling the pain from consecutive physical games against unbeaten Crystal Lake South and Waubonsie Valley (2-1). Bartlett junior Mike Partyka, a starter at middle linebacker and guard, broke his hand against Waubonsie Valley. His status is questionable for the Batavia game. Nose guard Randy Jackson has been slowed by a back injury. A week earlier, the Hawks lost running back Nate Odisho. "We have issues. They're piling up here," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said of the injury bug. "But these kids have been giving extra effort this week. They want to perform well. They want to win." Bartlett used more live scrimmages and 7-on-7 drills in practice than a normal week in the hopes such aggressive practicing will help minimize future turnovers. Through three games, the Hawks have fumbled 11 times, losing 5 of them, and have been intercepted on three occasions. "We've got to cut down on the turnovers," Meaney said. "We're a good team if we do that. We have a quarterback who can throw (A.J. Bilyeu), and we can still run the ball. We just have to play our ballgame and we can't give in. Batavia has some big boys over there, so we've been practicing staying low, getting off the ball and beating people to spots."

Winning its Upstate Eight Conference River division opener with offensive finesse and stifling defense, Batavia enters a UEC crossover in which its physicality will be tested. Bartlett lost to Waubonsie Valley but didn't go quietly as five banged up Waubonsie players missed early practices this week. "We have to match their physical-ness, particularly on the defensive side of the ball," Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said. He pointed specifically to Hawks defensive tackle Mark Pszczolkowski (6-2, 245) and safety Joey Scaminaci. Bartlett linebacker Mike Partyka (6-2, 215) is a two-year starter, as is quarterback A.J. Bilyeu. Against Larkin, offensive linemen Sean Tews, Ricky Garcia, Jay Thrun, Jared Clark, Ben Read and Nick Pappas protected quarterback Noel Gaspari for a landmark day - 1 touchdown rushing and 2 passing (to tight end Cole Gardner and receiver Joe Sortino), 13-of-13 passing, 204 yards. Gaspari is completing 68.2 percent of his passes on the season, and overall the Bulldogs have outgained their opposition 1,189 yards to 690. Helping hold Larkin's top receiver Trevor Whitehead to 1 catch for 15 yards, normal Batavia receiver David Peskind came in to make 2 interceptions, and reserve linebacker Alex Mace covered Whitehead underneath. Batavia held Larkin to 5 yards rushing and spread out its numerous sacks with lineman Mackenzie Brown (6-0, 240) coming of the bench for one. Batavia will try to keep Bartlett off-balance with an improved ground game. "Out of anybody on our schedule, this is probably going to be the most physical team we'll play," Gaspari said.

Next week: Batavia at St. Charles East (0-3, 0-1), Sept. 24; Lake Park (0-3, 0-1) at Bartlett, Sept. 24.