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Bartlett football eyeing lofty goals in 2011 season
Updated: August 19, 2011 8:22PM
With five conference championships and 10 playoff appearances in the past 11 years, Bartlett’s recent level of success is unmatched among local football programs.
Such a track record makes it all the more noteworthy that there is a buzz surrounding the Hawks going into the 2011 season that this could be a special year.
Coming off a 2010 campaign in which Bartlett finished 8-3 and earned a share of the Upstate Eight Valley title before losing in the second round of the playoffs to eventual Class 8A state champion Maine South, confidence is soaring for a talented and experienced Hawks squad.
“There’s kind of a tradition going here and these guys want to be the next conference champs,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “That’s the first goal and then we go on from there.”
Headlining the group of returning players is senior quarterback AJ Bilyeu (6-foot-3, 185), who committed to Air Force last month. The three-year varsity starter completed 105 of 157 passes for 1,437 yards and 19 touchdowns during a stellar junior season.
Bilyeu has the pleasure of throwing to a fellow All-UEC Valley honoree in senior wide receiver Zach Karys (6-0, 180), who is back for his third varsity season after racking up 778 receiving yards on 35 receptions last year. Senior Lorenzo Williams (6-2, 185) and junior Justin Blanchett (6-4, 195) are also expected to contribute at receiver, along with senior Sean Blazier (5-6, 135) and junior Kyle James (5-8, 155).
Senior Nate Massey (5-11, 210) is back at fullback. Joining him in a backfield filled with talent will be junior Aaron Everson (5-11, 185), sophomore James Butler (5-9, 174) and seniors Andrew Martinec (5-10, 175), Nate Odisho (5-9, 210) and AJ Johnson (5-8, 155), all of whom are in the mix at tailback.
The Hawks boast a pair of returning starters on the left side of the offensive line in senior tackle Kevin Bauers (6-3, 260) and senior guard Tyler Bernat (6-1, 280). Senior center Nick Antolik (6-2, 245), senior right guard Ryan Gray (6-1, 250) and senior right tackle Jon Foston (6-4, 255) round out the expected starters up front. Juniors Neil O’Connor (6-0, 205), Ryan Bauers (5-10, 180), George Danek (6-3, 240) and Brian Prohaska (5-11, 215) will also be in the mix.
In the rotation at tight end will be senior Lorenzo Mitchell (6-4, 230) and juniors Nick Mazzei (5-11, 215) and Kevin Pashawitz (6-1, 175).
“We’re pleased with the offense,” Meaney said. “We’ve got some depth and we still have a running game. Bilyeu can run too, so we can run some option with him and still run our power game in addition to passing the ball.”
Senior Mike Partyka (6-2, 220) and junior Kevin Kirchhoff (5-10, 225) are both back at inside linebacker to lead the defense after landing All-UEC Valley honors last year. Senior DD Coleman (6-0, 210) and junior Kevin Krause (5-11, 170) will also be in the mix at outside linebacker while seniors Tyler Hess (5-9, 185) and Tyler Barlass (6-1, 210) return at outside linebacker. Junior Vince Caruso (5-9, 170) also figures to factor in at outside linebacker.
Bartlett has all kinds of depth in the defensive backfield. Karys, Williams, Butler and Johnson could all contribute, but if they are focusing on offense, seniors Nick Simich (5-8, 155), Nick Krolikowski (6-0, 175) and Carlos Giraldo (5-8, 155) and juniors Mitch Reid (6-4, 195), Kyle Garcia (5-11, 165) and Nick Garcia (5-11, 175) will be able to pick up the slack.
On the defensive line, senior Ryan McCord (6-0, 225) is back for his third varsity season at tackle. Seniors Brian McKeague (5-10, 200) and James Chang (5-10, 205) and juniors Edgar Flores (5-9, 205) and Arthur Swanson (5-9, 185) are also in the mix at tackle.
Senior Will Spoerl (6-4, 205) will handle left end duties while senior Chris Kantzavelos (6-3, 230) will be at right end. Junior Andrew Guerrero (6-2, 215), a transfer from Fremd, is also expected to contribute up front along with Mitchell.
Senior kicker Ian Dobek (6-0, 180) is back after a solid junior season to help solidify the special teams. Juniors Alex Burda (6-0, 180), Steve Hrbacek (5-11, 170) and Kyle Garcia are all vying for backup quarterback duties.
2011 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BARTLETT HAWKS
2010 record: 8-3
Coach: Tom Meaney (54-30 in 9th season)
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