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Bartlett tops Fenton, will play South Elgin for UEC crown

Junior quarterback Jacob Scearce is having a lot of fun this spring with the Bartlett football team, but he wishes dearly that this Hawks unit would have a chance to compete for a state title.

On Saturday, Scearce ran for a pair of touchdowns and also threw a scoring pass to Hayden Angell as Bartlett stayed perfect this spring at 5-0 with a 48-18 defeat of Fenton at Serpico Field in Melrose Park. The Hawks shined on offense, defense and special teams and will look to close out the shortened spring campaign with a perfect season and an Upstate Eight Conference crown after playing rival South Elgin next week. The Storm also are 5-0.

"This right now is a team that I think could make a run at a title," said Scearce, knowing full well that COVID-19 made that goal impossible this season. "This is the team I was hoping we'd take to the state playoffs. But now we're just trying to have the best season we can for the seniors."

Bartlett has stressed turnovers all year and on Saturday the Hawks recovered a Bison fumble on the opening kickoff and that led to the first of Scearce's two short rushing touchdowns.

The score was tied 6-6 after one quarter but the Hawks added a special teams touchdown in the second quarter while taking a 27-6 lead at the half. With Fenton punting from its end zone, a bobbled snap and a fumble was grabbed by linebacker Nicholas Mangoni in the end zone for a score and a 20-6 lead with 2:17 left in the half.

"The defense has played really well this entire season. They fly around the football and they're just a group of tough kids that like to play physical," Hawks coach Matt Erlenbaugh said. "That's something that we preach. We're always talking takeaways and we're always looking to get that football and we want to score on defense."

The Bison (2-4) tied the score 6-6 in the first quarter on the first of three touchdowns grabs from Frankie Krygier, but struggled to move the chains much at all in the second and third quarters.

The senior duo of quarterback Nickolas Benn and Krygier did connect two more times late in Saturday's contest.

"It's great to come out here one last time this spring," said Krygier, who made several tackles on defense to go along with his second 3-TD game this year. "The majority of us aren't playing college football. Fatigue was a big part, especially in the second quarter. They have like 50 guys on the sideline and we have like 10 and that plays a big role."

James Knight, Philip Ayomidele and Xander Salyers each added touchdown runs for the Hawks.

"I'm real proud of our guys and I'm happy that we're playing," Erlenbaugh added. "It is unfortunate that we don't get a playoff this year because we do have a talented team."

  Bartlett's Jacob Scearce (10) celebrates an early touchdown during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Xander Salyers (17) fights for extra yards as he is brought down by a horde of Fenton players during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's James Knight (2) looks for running room against Fenton during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Sherby Brown (10) wraps up Bartlett's James Knight (2) during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Nickolas Benn (2) during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Xander Salyers (17) tries to move past Fenton's Richard Lopez IV (5) during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Max Nordlund (37) gets a hand on an extra point attempt by Fenton's Pascal Gagala. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Frank Krygier (11) celebrates an early touchdown with teammates Sherby Brown (10) and Zachary Koch (20) Saturday during their loss to Bartlett at Serpico Field in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Frank Krygier (11) reels in a long pass over Bartlett's Nicholas Bucaro (6) during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Bartlett's Gabriel Bemont (19) tries to keep Fenton's Richard Lopez IV (5) away from a loose ball during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Frank Krygier tries to break free form Bartlett's Steven Callahan. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Sherby Brown (10) puts a hit on Bartlett's Hayden Angell (84) during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
  Fenton's Frank Krygier (11) and Bartlett's Johnny Walker (32) battle for a long pass during football at Serpico Field Saturday April 17, 2021 in Melrose Park. Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
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