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Despite missing playoffs, an upbeat finish for Bartlett

In a game that had no playoff implications, the Bartlett and East Aurora football teams played for pride Friday night.

And on the Hawks' senior night, their graduating players made their final game at Millennium Field a good one defeating the Tomcats 51-6 in Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division play.

Bartlett (4-5, 3-4) found the end zone 7 times, 5 in the air, and senior Daniel Danek capped the game with his first touchdown of the season coming on a 12-yard run in the final minute of the game.

"It felt great because that's a play that I normally block on," said Danek, one of the Hawks' defensive leaders. "I'm happy I was able to cap my career with a score."

Despite the lopsided score, both teams came out strong scoring on their opening drives. Bartlett went up 7-0 after junior QB Brenner Wallace (28-for-42, 346 yards) threw his first of 3 TD passes to senior Ryan DiCanio on a 7-yard score.

East Aurora (0-9, 0-7) answered on a 12-yard scoring run by Nathaniel Booker. Booker rushed for 74 yards in the first quarter but was held to 22 more the rest of the game.

DiCanio, who had 11 receptions for 178 yards, had a 46-yard TD reception for a 14-7 lead, and junior Cameron Mays halted what was a solid Tomcats drive with an interception just outside of the end zone and ran it back 99 yards for his second defensive score of the season and a 21-7 Hawks lead.

"That was definitely a special one," Mays said. "It was a long run, but defensive scores fire up the sidelines. I wanted to help the seniors go out with a win."

Wallace targeted 6 seniors on the night and got Brandon Gates (5 receptions, 51 yards) a 5-yard TD catch in the second quarter and Bryce Petty (3 receptions, 39 yards) a 22-yard TD catch in the third. DiCanio added a 42-yard TD catch in the third.

"It was senior night, and that's what you want to do," said Hawks' coach Tom Meaney. "We got a lot of seniors in, some of who may not have had a lot of touches this year. I'm happy they were able to do that."

Junior kicker Alex Triantos added a 22-yard field goal for the Hawks.

East Aurora QB Michael Gonzales threw for 56 yards in an 8-for-18 performance, and the Tomcats finished with 191 totals yards.

"The score on the scoreboard doesn't determine winners and losers," Tomcats' coach Kurt Becker said. "These guys have done the right thing on and off the field. What matters is what kind of young men these guys become."

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