Bartlett earns UEC share by stopping Streamwood
The Bartlett football team keeps building momentum, winning their seventh straight game heading into the playoffs on Friday night at Bartlett.
Jumping to a 21-0 lead after one quarter, the Hawks went on to defeat Streamwood 47-6 to clinch a share of the Upstate Eight Conference title with South Elgin and Glenbard East.
Bartlett (8-1, 8-1 UEC) scored on all three of its first quarter possessions with no drive longer than 55 yards, and it took only 13 plays from scrimmage. Senior Tyler Rivelli struck first on a 3-yard scoring run, and junior quarterback Michael Priami threw a pair of TD passes from 35 yards out to Hayden Angell and 29 yards to Alec Palella.
"We had to come out fast," said Priami who finished 6-for-9 with 169 yards and 3 TD passes as well as 1 rushing touchdown. "That was our game plan all week, just go out and hit them first and we did that, 21-0. We got three touchdowns in the first and put them to bed early."
Priami added a 55-yard TD pass to senior Mathew Young for a 41-6 lead late in the third quarter, and he had a 14-yard scoring run in the fourth to end the game's scoring.
Although leading throughout, the Sabres (2-7, 2-7) showed some fight not allowing any more first half points to Bartlett. Streamwood also gained 113 of its 138 total yards in the first half.
After the Hawks increased their lead to 27-0 after an 80-yard punt return from Nicholas Bucaro, Jakobe Strong had a huge return on the ensuing kickoff setting the Sabres up 8 yards from the end zone. Senior Sirrion Dixon eventually put Streamwood on the board on a 1-yard touchdown run to pull within 27-6 with 7:44 left in the third.
"We had kind of just gotten a little bit healthy, so we were able to move it a little bit," Sabres coach Don Guindon said. "I'm proud of their effort and stuff like that, especially in our last game with our seniors."
A little over two minutes later, Jordan Snyder capped a 54-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 34-6 Hawks lead.
The Hawks offense finished the game with 332 total yards, and their defense forced two turnovers.
For Bartlett coach Matt Erlenbaugh, earning a conference title and heading into the postseason with a strong winning streak, which included a huge 17-14 victory over rival South Elgin last week, shows that the team is buying into the program's system.
"It's a good feeling," said Erlenbaugh. "It shows our guys that we're on the right path and the things that we're doing in the offseason, the things that we were preaching and stressing, it's showing and it's paying off. Keep the course, and great things will come."