Lyons comes back to top Bartlett

Updated: October 31, 2011 5:26PM

Up by as many as 25 points in the first half against Lyons, it appeared inevitable that Bartlett would have a smooth ride into the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.

The Lions defied the odds, however, rallying for a 45-42 victory at Streamwood that sent a shocked Hawks team home for the season.

The Lions (6-4) outscored Bartlett 28-7 in the second half, pulling ahead with 2:42 left in the game on an 18-yard TD run by Matthew Harris. The junior also had a 30-yard TD run to start the rally in the third quarter.

The Hawks (7-3) attempted a 33-yard field goal with 15 seconds left, but Ian Dobek’s kick sailed wide left.

“We knew we could do it,” Harris said. “We knew we had it in ourselves. We just had to believe in one another.”

A 25-yard TD reception by Lorenzo Mitchell from A.J. Bilyeu with eight minutes left in the second quarter gave Bartlett a 35-10 lead. The Hawks scored on their first five drives, and at that point showed no signs of stopping.

“We were in control in the first half,” said Hawks coach Tom Meaney. “We didn’t finish it.”

Jaime Jones rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries for the Lions, scoring on runs of 37, 9 and 7 yards.

“My mentality is whatever they score we can do better,” he said. “It’s what we’re taught to do. Four quarters.”

James Butler rushed for 193 yards on 22 carries for Bartlett, scoring on runs of 24, 4 and 11 yards.

Up 42-37 in the fourth quarter, James broke free for an 80-yard scoring run that appeared to seal the win for Bartlett, but the play was called back for offensive holding.

“It wan’t a lack of effort,” Meaney said. “It wasn’t a lack of desire. I feel bad for our kids who worked so hard.”

Lyons will face Glenbrook South in the second round.

Butler scored his first of three TDs on a 24-yard run on the game’s opening drive to give Bartlett a 7-0 lead. Teammate Aaron Everson then put the Hawks up 14-0 on a 30-yard touchdown run.

The Lions got on the board with a 26-yard field goal by Jake Elliot with 4:22 left in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 14-3, but an unsuccessful onside kick on the ensuing kickoff gave the Hawks possession at Lyons’ 44-yard-line.

A play action fake on the drive’s third play resulted in a wide open Zach Karys for a 34-yard TD pass from Bilyeu to give Bartlett a 21-3 lead.

It only took two plays for Lyons to march 81 yards on their next drive, scoring on a 37-yard run by Jones to make it 21-10 in favor of Bartlett.

Faced with a fourth-and-four in the second quarter, Bilyeu (15 of 23, 242 yards) connected with Mitchell for a 25-yard touchdown reception.

An eight-yard interception return by lineman Jimmy Mitchell gave the Lions the ball at the Hawks’ nine-yard line, which set up a touchdown run by Jones on the very next play.

Bartlett’s last scoring drive came with 15 seconds left in the third quarter on an 11-yard run by Butler.

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