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Bartlett dominates Elgin, Moore or less

The Bartlett student section chanted “double trouble, double trouble” in tribute whenever all-conference middle linebackers Mike Partyka and Kevin Kirchhoff were on the field in the Hawks' 42-0 nonconference victory over Elgin Friday.

That same chant epitomized the uphill challenge the short-handed Maroons faced. Not only did Elgin have to play a fired-up Bartlett defense that was seeking redemption after the unit allowed the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the game against Wheaton North a week earlier, the Maroons had to do so without their captain and best player, running back Dennis Moore.

Moore sprained his ankle on the first play of last week's season-opening 34-19 win over Dundee-Crown, he said, a game in which the senior nonetheless went on to rush for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns and return a kickoff 99 yards for another score.

However, Moore was not able to practice during week. He was considered a game-time decision, but Elgin coach Dave Bierman refused to risk a setback with the Upstate Eight Conference River Division opener against unbeaten Streamwood looming next Saturday.

“We thought he was going to be able to go, but he couldn't,” Bierman said. “He should be ready next week. He wants to play. It's not a question of him. He warmed up and he was naturally upset, but I told him I needed him for the long haul. We can't be going through this every week. We'll get him healed up and go to work. He understands.”

Minus their most explosive player the Maroons were ineffective offensively against Partyka, Kirchhoff and the rest of the Hawks. Bartlett (1-1) held Elgin (1-1) to 41 total yards and recovered 3 of 6 forced fumbles to register the shutout.

“A shutout is a defense's dream,” said Partyka, a three-year starter. “After last week we just felt horrible. We came out strong tonight and got done what had to get done.”

“This feels great after that terrible loss,” Kirchhoff said. “We just wanted to come out and put a zero on the scoreboard.”

Bartlett ended the suspense early by scoring all 42 of its points before halftime. The offense followed the game plan to the letter. The Hawks ran the ball nine times on their 10-play, 67-yard opening drive, which culminated in a 12-yard touchdown run by fullback Nate Massey (3 carries, 57 yards).

Those early rushes wore down Elgin's defense and opened up the passing game for Bartlett quarterback A.J. Bilyeu. The Air Force recruit peppered the Maroons for 11 completions in 16 attempts for 155 yards. He was intercepted once but more than made up for it with touchdowns passes of 7, 24, 7 and 7 yards.

Bilyeu, too, pointed to the Wheaton North loss as motivation.

“Last week was really rough and we just told ourselves that it wasn't going to happen again,” he said, “We're going to do everything we can the rest of the season to not feel like that again because it hurt every single one of us, players and staff.

“But we got rolling in this one.”

Four different Bartlett receivers caught touchdown passes: seniors Lorenzo Mitchell, Lorenzo Williams and Zach Karys and sophomore James Butler. Mitchell, who caught 5 balls for 52 yards, made the highlight reel play of the game.

With Bartlett already leading 7-0 in the first quarter, Mitchell ran a fade route to the left corner. Bilyeu's throw arrived over Mitchell's right shoulder as he turned to look for the ball, so he reached out and snared the ball with his big right hand, a play that drew a huge reaction from the crowd and, later, his coach.

“He looked like a pro receiver on that play, like Plaxico Burress,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said.

The Hawks also rushed for 140 yards behind seven different ball carriers. Senior Andrew Martinec finished with 9 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown. Butler had 29 yards rushing on 7 carries and made 3 catches for a team-best 66 yards.

Senior kicker Ian Dobek connected on all 7 extra points he attempted, and he forced touchbacks on 7 of 9 kickoff attempts.

  Aaron Everson of Bartlett dodges defender Travon Hall of Elgin Friday night at Millennium Field. Kristin Ackmann/kackmann@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett’s A.J. Bilyeu, right, hands off to Nate Massey during the Hawks’ 42-0 win over Elgin at Millennium Field Friday night. Kristin Ackmann/kackmann@dailyherald.com
  James Butler of Bartlett flies past Elrich Keophilalay of Elgin at Millennium Field Friday night. Kristin Ackmann/kackmann@dailyherald.com
  Devin Gilliam of Elgin intercepts a pass intended for Bartlett’s Lorenzo Mitchell Friday night at Millennium Field. Kristin Ackmann/kackmann@dailyherald.com