Precision paying off for Bartlett’s offense

Updated: September 12, 2011 7:52PM

Bartlett will be hard pressed to have a better offensive start to a game than the one it had last Friday night against Waubonsie Valley.

The Hawks set the tone for their 27-20 Upstate Eight Valley win by picking apart a formidable Warriors defense out of the gate.

Bartlett received the opening kickoff and proceeded to put together a 16-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that ate up the first 7:58 of the first quarter. The Hawks never had a play go for negative yardage during the possession, and they converted three third downs prior to quarterback A.J. Bilyeu scoring on a 1-yard plunge.

It was more of the same when Bartlett got the ball back after a Waubonsie Valley punt. The Hawks again went 80 yards, this time in seven plays and 2:56 as Bilyeu hooked up with Zach Karys for a 31-yard scoring pass to make the score 14-0 early in the second quarter

Bartlett faced only one third down on the second drive, and Bilyeu recovered a fumbled snap for a 1-yard loss. The snafu didn’t matter, though, as the Air Force-bound quarterback came back on fourth-and-two and completed a 14-yard pass to Lorenzo Mitchell.

“A lot of times down and distance doesn’t mean too much to us,” Bilyeu said. “We’re confident in our offense and we know we’ve got guys that can make plays. It’s all about executing the play, and that’s why we’re so successful on third and fourth down.”

Lundeen stepping up for Sabres

With the steady left arm of senior quarterback Dalton Lundeen leading the way, Streamwood is another team showing an uncanny ability to gain whatever yardage is needed on any given play.

Lundeen’s gunslinger mentality was on full display in Saturday’s 28-14 victory at Elgin, starting with a 41-yard touchdown completion to Kyle Holder on a fourth-and-six play just across midfield in the second quarter.

The Sabres continued to wiggle out of tough spots on their 13-play drive to start the second half. On a third-and-eight early in the possession, Lundeen connected with Alex Morrow for an 18-yard pass. Then on third-and-goal from the 24, Lundeen found Deji Giwa over the middle for a 24-yard touchdown strike to cap the 73-yard, 6:22 drive.

“We’ve had a few times where we’re in the hole on some of those plays,” Streamwood coach Cal Cummins said. “Dalton wants those opportunities, I guarantee you.”

A three-year varsity starter who also plays basketball and stars on the baseball team, Lundeen has developed into one of the area’s top quarterbacks. Through three games he has completed 25-of-43 passes for 514 yards and six touchdowns.

In another sign of his maturation, Lundeen has no interceptions. A year ago he was picked off 11 times.

“He’s a fun kid and he’s having a good year,” Cummins said. “He had a great sophomore year for us, then got injured part way through and came back last year for us. Even though he had a decent year numbers-wise (as a junior), he’d be the first to tell you he probably wasn’t the greatest leader and didn’t always make the greatest decisions on the field. He cost us at times as much as he helped us.

“This year he’s been a really good leader for us and he’s making plays when he needs to, and that’s what a senior should do.”

Change under center for Maroons

Elgin had a new look at quarterback last weekend when sophomore Ryan Sitter made his first varsity start. The 6-foot, 150-pounder is the son of Maroons boys basketball coach Mike Sitter.

Things started well for Ryan Sitter as his first two passes went for completions, including a 16-yard touchdown strike to Mitch Poltersdorf. The honeymoon didn’t last, though, as Sitter completed only one of his final 15 passes and was intercepted three times.

Sitter replaces senior Devin Simon, who will remain in the mix at linebacker and could see time at wide receiver.

“I don’t have a doubt in my mind that (Sitter) will get better,” Elgin coach Dave Bierman said. “I’m also real proud of Devin Simon because he’s really helping (Sitter) in practice. That shows a lot of character.”

Green Wave ready for looming challenges

St. Edward took care of business in its first three games, outscoring its opponents 116-6 en route to a 3-0 start. Maintaining that pace won’t be easy, though, as the Green Wave braces for a grueling final six weeks of the regular season.

Next up for St. Edward is its toughest test to date as it travels Friday to play Marmion (1-2), which lost in the Class 6A title game last year. Following a winnable game in Week 5 against Walther Lutheran (1-2), St. Edward finishes with a murder’s row stretch of Marian Central (3-0), reigning Class 5A champion Montini (2-1), state-ranked Aurora Christian (3-0) and St. Francis (2-1).

“I think we’ve done what we expected the first three games,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said after last week’s 40-0 win at Wheaton Academy. “I’m not sure if many people outside our locker room expect us to win (next) Friday (against Marmion), but that’s what we’re going to work towards.

“We’re happy with where we’re at. If we’re going to make the postseason, we had to win our two pre-(conference) games, come out of this one (against Wheaton Academy) with a win, and now maybe surprise a couple people.”

Tough times for North Stars

St. Charles North is off to an 0-3 start for the first time since 2002 after being humbled at Neuqua Valley 43-3 last Friday.

The search for answers began during the defeat to the Wildcats as junior Ryan Fischbach replaced senior starter Collin Peterson at quarterback late in the first half. Peterson returned later in the game but was pulled again in favor of junior Grant Loess.

The results weren’t pretty for any of the three quarterbacks. Peterson finished 2-of-12 for 22 yards, Fischbach was 4-of-17 for 15 yards and Loess’ only pass attempt sailed incomplete. That adds up to a 6-of-30 showing for 37 yards.

Despite the rough start, the North Stars are maintaining a positive outlook going into their Upstate River opener this week at Streamwood. If it comes as any solace, the last time St. Charles North started 0-3, it bounced back with six straight wins to secure its first of eight straight playoff appearances.

“We’ve had three tough games,” St. Charles North coach Mark Gould said. “If the guys let it, they can learn from these and get better because of it.”

— Chris Pummer and Eddie Burns contributed

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