This is where Hanover Central senior Rocco Bartolomeo always wanted to be.
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound wide receiver/defensive back has long believed he could be the focal point of a passing game.
“Ever since I was a freshman, I’ve always wanted to come out here and be the guy, to be the No. 1 receiver,” Bartolomeo said. “I’ve worked so hard for things like this.”
Bartolomeo looked the part Friday night, racking up 185 yards and three touchdowns on seven catches during the Wildcats’ 48-21 Northwest Crossroads Conference road win against Lowell.
Senior quarterback Tommy Bonner threw for 296 yards and a school-record six touchdowns as Hanover Central (3-1, 2-0) rolled past the Red Devils (1-3, 0-1), who got two touchdown catches from junior tight end Zak Scharnke.
Bonner’s total included Bartolomeo’s 59-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Bonner, who returned to the school after spending the past two years at St. Rita in Chicago, bought extra time in the pocket before finding Bartolomeo behind the Lowell secondary.
“I dropped back and had a lot of time,” Bonner said. “I was scanning around and saw him with a quick glance, so I just threw it up and let the skill guys do what they do. I have confidence in him.”
Hanover Central coach Brian Parker would like to see more long passes like that one.
“Even last year, we didn’t throw the ball downfield very well,” Parker said. “It was a point of emphasis over the summer.”
Bartolomeo was happy to oblige, adding 33-yard and 35-yard catches as the Wildcats built a 35-14 halftime lead.
“We had a lot of man coverage looks,” he said, “and if you’re running man-on-man against us, you’re probably going to get beat.”
Bartolomeo’s confidence offers a glimpse into the mental makeup of a player who had 40 catches for 387 yards on offense and four interceptions on defense last season. As the younger of two siblings — his brother Tony Jr. also played football at Hanover Central and graduated in 2023 — Bartolomeo has never minded being the underdog.
“That’s just my mentality, mostly,” he said. “I’m going to be the best competitor on the field, and I won’t be beaten by anybody. It’s what we all say in every pregame, that we can’t be beat.”
Bartolomeo’s father, Tony Sr., was on the sidelines as the Wildcats’ quarterbacks coach and was not surprised by his son’s gaudy offensive numbers.
“What you saw tonight is what we’ve always seen out of him,” Bartolomeo Sr. said. “He’s always been undersized, but he’s always played big. He’s used that as an edge. He’s wanted the ball his whole life, and he’s not afraid of the moment.”
Parker said Bartolomeo combines that competitive streak with other tools necessary to be a factor on both sides of the ball.
“He’s a short guy, but you can see how explosive he is,” Parker said. “He was high-pointing balls, jumping over guys and making plays. He’s just a tremendous football player.”
After posting career-high numbers, Bartolomeo isn’t satisfied.
“Every week is a different mindset,” he said. “Every team does something different. It’s all about being better than what they do.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.
