Maine South ends dream for Hawks
Bartlett quarterback Josh Hasenberg knew one player couldn't win a football game.
Maine South didn't sport a 1-man team - it had several larger than life performances in its 23-6 victory over Bartlett in the Class 8A semifinals at Millennium Field.
Maine South (13-0) advances to next Saturday's state championship game against Hinsdale Central (11-2), which defeated Mt. Carmel 24-21.
"A team working together can beat any one individual," Hasenberg said. "You can't win a football game with any one superhero."
Maine South got a balanced attack with Matt Perez, rushing for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 15 carries, with quarterback Charlie Goro going 20 of 28 for 178 yards and a score.
"When we need a big play (Perez) steps up, he does it," said Goro, who has signed to play at Vanderbilt next season.
The defense filled out the remainder of Maine South's "Justice League" with defensive lineman Zach Timm (2 sacks) and Nick Catino stuffing the run and preventing Bartlett from ever getting that 1 big play it needed to open the game up.
The duo combined for what may have been the biggest play of the night when Timm sacked Hasenberg in the end zone to give Maine South a saftey. Catino got the first hit on Hasenberg, but Timm put his team up 16-0 with 8:37 left in the game with the sack.
The Hawks (12-1) got a 24 yard run from Corleon Richardson (6 rushes, 30 yards) and Hasenberg (9 for 22, 134 yards) connected with Greg Partyka on a 25-yard pass on Bartlett's opening drive. The Hawks did not capitalize on the early success, with Mike Cooney scooping up a Fabian Libreri (12 rushes, 31 yards) fumble.
Bartlett would not have another big play in the first half, and amassed just 4 total yards in the second quarter.
"We just weren't having things working for us," said Hasenberg, who did hook up with Cory Brown (6 receptions, 67 yards) on a 9-yard touchdown pass in the game's final minute.
The Hawks' defense eventually got worn down after spending large amounts of time on the field. Maine South made it 7-0 in the first half, capped by Goro running in a 5-yard score. The drive took 6 minutes, 7 seconds off of the clock.
The score was followed by a pair of 3-and-outs from Bartlett's offense, leaving the defense on the field 24 plays in the second quarter. Still, Hawks coach Tom Meaney was not worried about the 7-0 deficit going into the second half.
"Down 7-0 at halftime, I was feeling pretty good," Meaney said. "That's right where you want to be."
Things unraveled for Bartlett after yet another long Maine South drive with Perez putting Maine South ahead 13-0 on a 31-yard run. Joey Orlando's extra point made it a 14-0 game. On the drive, Maine South used up 4:52 off the clock and ran 10 plays. This coming after the defense had been off the field for just 1 minute 12 seconds. Perez added his second score of the second half on a 3-yard run with 5:36 left to play. Orlando's extra point put Maine South up 23-0.
"We were on the field too much," said Bartlett junior Eric Moreno, who finished with 8 tackles and a sack. "We played our best. We needed to make stops and we didn't. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth." (260)
Goro went 10 of 10 for 93 yards in the second quarter, but found the endzone just once. Maine South had a chance to make it a 10-7 lead before halftime, but Orlando's 29-yard field goal attempt was wide right. Orlando did finish with 7 receptions for 47 yards, with John Alviti leading everyone with 113 receiving yards, including 42 in the second quarter.
Despite the passing heroics, Maine South wasn't able to put the points it wanted on the board until it's "Superman" got more help.
"In the first half, I was trying to make too many plays," Goro said.