This was definitely a “whoa” moment for Tyler Meziere, but the Bartlett senior kept his cool.
Lining up behind center when the Hawks’ offense took the field Friday night for the second game of the season against Lake Park was one of the last places Meziere thought he would be.
Typically, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Meziere is a two-way starter at wide receiver and cornerback for coach Milan Vuckovich.
But Vuckovich had learned Tuesday that senior Vince Yario, Bartlett’s starter since his sophomore year, would be sidelined with a leg injury. Yario’s backup earlier left the team for personal reasons.
“Coach ‘Vuke’ came to me and said, ‘You’re the emergency QB — you’re the guy,’” Meziere said.
Gulp.
“The last time I played quarterback I was 9,” Meziere said of his time in third and fourth grade with the Bartlett Raiders. “I was the quarterback then because I was the only one who knew the plays.”
His first thought upon hearing Vuckovich?
“I was shocked,” Meziere said. “I didn’t think I’d ever have to play QB again.”
He wasn’t alone. His mom, Gina, was concerned.
“You know how moms are, they’re always worrying,” Meziere said. “She was like, ‘I don’t want you to get hit a lot.’ You know, at receiver, it’s like only one guy coming after you, but when you’re playing quarterback, you’ve got 11 guys trying to take your head off.”
His father, Rob, played cornerback in college at Illinois Wesleyan. He had different thoughts.
“My dad was confident,” Meziere said. “He knew I would be fine.”
How did it go?
Bartlett (0-2) walked away with a 42-20 loss, but Meziere felt the game was closer than the score would indicate and his coach agreed.
Vuckovich made some changes to the offense before that game and Meziere responded by running 17 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 7 of 8 passes for 84 yards and also played in the secondary, intercepting a pass that led to one of the Hawks’ scores.
Meziere is likely to start again in Friday’s 7 p.m. home game against Glenbard East (1-1), but Vuckovich was awaiting word Wednesday on Yario’s status after he went to see the doctor.
“This is week to week,” said Vuckovich, who wants to be careful since Yario has committed to Harper for baseball. “Vince can chuck the ball 70 yards. He throws a baseball 90 mph off the mound.
“I would call Vince an athletic pocket quarterback, whereas Ty is just an athlete.”
It’s why Vuckovich wanted to take advantage of Meziere’s running ability.
“I had to get out of my comfort zone, out of my mentality,” said Vuckovich, pleased with how well Meziere stepped up. “He’s so calm, so reserved, handled it well. ‘Ty Cool’ really does say it.
“The energy we played with Friday night, the way the team responded to Ty and way he responded, it was amazing. We’ll see what happens this week.”
Meziere was a freshman when Vuckovich became head coach and his team posted the first of three straight 4-5 seasons.
Although Meziere was not one of seven players from his class promoted to varsity as sophomores, he has worked since freshman year with a Naperville training facility and a receiver instructor.
“He used that as motivation,” Vuckovich said. “And now look at him.”
Meziere, who touts a 4.2 GPA and 31 ACT, has NCAA Division III offers from Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Calvin and interest from a wide range of programs waiting to see his tape from this season.
And if he’s needed at quarterback, that’s just fine.
“I’m willing to sacrifice for the team and do what I’ve gotta do,” Meziere said. “We’ll see what happens. That’s kind of how I’m going into it, thinking this isn’t going to hurt me at all.
“I’ll play college football for sure.”
Originally Published:
