Battle of unbeatens

Cory Brown (left) and Bartlett take on Maine South.
(Michael Smart/Courier News)

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No offense to Hinsdale Central and Mount Carmel, but the state playoff football game to watch tonight will take place at 7 at Millennium Field in Streamwood.

That's where unbeaten Maine South and Bartlett -- both nicknamed the Hawks -- will square off with a trip to the Class 8A state championship game on the line.

Twenty-nine miles to the southeast in Hinsdale, the Red Devils and Caravan will simultaneously be vying for a trip to Champaign. However, both those teams are 10-2, making the showdown between a pair of squads with nary a blemish on their records so attractive.

"Number 1 against No. 2 in terms of seeding, that's what the IHSA wants," Maine South coach Dave Inserra said. "Two undefeated teams, you've got to love that. It just makes the game matter that much more."

For the record, Bartlett is the No. 1 seed and Maine South is the No. 2 seed in the upper bracket of the Class 8A playoffs, based on playoff points accumulated during the season. However, Maine South has enjoyed the higher ranking all season in both major Chicago newspapers as well as the Associated Press Class 8A state poll.

Besides being unbeaten, the similarities between the teams are many.

Both squads tout high-powered passing attacks led by talented quarterbacks who spread the ball evenly to a pair of dangerous receivers. Bartlett averages a healthy 29.9 points per game, but that is overshadowed by Maine South's ridiculous 47.2 points per game.

While those offensive numbers are impressive, neither team has needed much scoring this year as their respective defenses don't allow many points.

Bartlett allowed a season-high 35 points in last week's win against Schaumburg, but is still allowing only 13.3 points on average. Meanwhile, Maine South has allowed only seven points the past two games and is limiting opponents to a mere 11.9 points per game.

The similarities continue as both teams are conference champions. Maine South is coming off its eighth straight Central Suburban Conference South Division championship while Bartlett claimed its first Upstate Eight Conference title since 2003.

Both schools also are perennial playoff participants as Bartlett is in the postseason for the ninth straight year and Maine South is playing in the postseason for the 17th straight season.

However, the similarities end when it comes to experience with lengthy playoff runs.

Before this season, Bartlett had only two postseason victories in program history. It has three playoffs wins this year and is in the state semifinals for the first time.

As for Maine South, this is its sixth trip to the state semifinals in the past 14 seasons. In those six semifinal appearances, Maine South is 5-1, and on two occasions during that span it went on to win the state championship.

"Maine South has been ranked No. 1 almost all year, so it's quite a challenge," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "But our kids are up for it and we're excited about where we're at and the opportunity to represent the Upstate Eight Downstate if we pull off a win against Maine South."

The one other intangible the teams share is a deep desire to win the state's biggest prize.

Bartlett's players say after every game that they won't be satisfied until they win the state championship.

Meanwhile, Inserra says his players have had a one-track mind focused on winning a state title ever since losing to Mount Carmel 21-14 in the state quarterfinals last year.

For only one of these talented teams, that state championship dream will still be alive by Sunday morning, once the similarities and differences between the programs have been decided on the field.