Photo by Joe Lovell Shenandoah quarterback Braxton Barnett threw for 185 yards and four touchdowns during Friday’s 28-20 win over Shadyside.

SHADYSIDE — Just as it had in an opening game loss at Martins Ferry, Shadyside spent much of Friday night’s opening half shooting themselves in the foot against visiting Shenandoah.

Penalties, a lack of a running game and overall mistakes were enough to put interim head coach Mike Kernik’s Tigers into a big hole on the way to their second 0-2 start to a season over the last three campaigns.

Freshman quarterback Braxton Barnett fired four touchdown passes, three to junior Hunter Yates, and junior Jacob Feldner rushed for 140 yards and a score as the Zeps cruised to a cherished 38-20 victory over Shadyside on the turf at Fleming Field.

The victory was the first for Shenandoah coach Josh Lowery, who took over the program in the middle of this current week. The Zeps are now 2-0 on the young campaign while the Tigers drop to 0-2 with Buckeye Local set to pay a visit next Friday night.

“This is a huge win for us,” Lowery said with a smile. “As far as I am being told this is our first-ever victory over Shadyside (in football) so I am very happy for the kids and the community. They really have a reason to celebrate (Friday).

“I have preached all week that yes, we have faced some adversity, but it is just a game and if the kids go out and fight through it everything will be alright and they did just that.”

Both teams had trouble mustering any offense early so the Zeps got things going on defense when a tipped pass from Shadyside junior quarterback Ben Wach ended up in the hands of junior Tristen Rossiter, giving the visitors a first down at the enemy 18. A nine-yard burst on first down followed by a pair of sacks had Shenandoah facing a fourth-and-16 from the 24, however, a roughing the passer penalty gave the Zeps a fresh set of downs.

On the very next play Barnett hit Yates to the left for the score at 9:41 of the second. The pass from two failed but the visitors were on the board with a 6-0 lead.

Shadyside’s third three-and-out of the half put the Zeps back in business at their own 42 and after converting a third-and-14 six plays into the drive it was Barnett to Yates once again, this time on a leaping grab over the middle from 23 yards away at 5:30 for the touchdown. Weston Miley hauled in the two-point pass for a 14-0 reading.

The Tigers recovered a fumble near midfield a short time later, but another penalty pushed them into a fourth-and-19 situation before turning the ball over on downs. From there Shenandoah went on an eight-play, 54-yard march for the final score of the half, a nine-yard hookup from Barnett to junior Brendon Portman with Jacob Feldner running in the two-point try for a 22-0 advantage at the break.

Kernik’s crew managed just 69 yards of offense in the first half while allowing 189.

While the Tigers, who were once again their own worst enemies with nine penalties for 100 yards, fought hard in the second half it wasn’t enough after the sluggish first two periods.

Shenandoah pushed the margin to 30-0 at 8:13 of the third with a two-play, 48-yard drive with Barnett hitting Yates for his third score from 25 yards out and Feldner adding the deuce.

Shadyside finally got on the board after sophomore Cole Micker returned the ensuing kickoff 69 yards to the Zeps’ 12 with Wach connecting with senior Elijah Brock, for the first of their three touchdown strikes, on the very next play at 7:21. The kick was blocked and the score stood at 32 advantage.

Wach found Brock from scoring strikes of eight and 16 yards in the fourth quarter with a two-point pass between the duo capping the scoring late.

“Early penalties hurt us, but like I said last week, I really need to get things cleaned up,” Kernik said. “I felt like we were more focused at practice this week and paid more attention and things got a little better in the end (Friday).

“These kids never give up. They didn’t against Ferry and they came out and played hard in the second half (Friday). But give Shenandoah all the credit, they played a great game and their kids really wanted it. I am just happy at how we fought, and I believe we will continue to build on this and get better every week.”

Shenandoah finished with 322 total yards of offense, 185 through the air and 137 on the ground, while limiting the Tigers to just 32 yards on the ground and 230 for the night. Wach did throw for 198 yards and three scores, but was intercepted twice.

“We really want to live by the run and control the clock,” Lowery said. “But Braxton (Barnett) did a great job. He is a very special, raw, talent and it is scary what he could become.

“This was a great win (Friday) and hopefully we can keep this going.”

Shenandoah 38, Shadyside 20

Shenandoah 0 22 16 0 — 38

Shadyside 0 0 6 14 — 20

SH-Yates 12 pass from Barnett (pass failed)

SH-Yates 23 pass from Barnett (Miley pass from Barnett)

SH-Portman 9 pass from Barnett (Feldner run)

SH-Yates 25 pass from Barnett (Feldner run)

SS-Brock 12 pass from Wach (kick failed)

SH-Feldner 36 run (Feldner run)

SS-Brock 8 pass from Wach (pass failed)

SS-Brock 16 pass from Wach (Brock pass from Wach)

Rushing: Shenandoah 39-137-td (Feldner 25-140-td; Barnett 11-(-13); McPeek 2-8; Yates 1-2. Shadyside 14-32 (Wach 8-11; Mavrikas 3-4; Miller 2-15; Micker 1-2).

Passing: Shenandoah 12-19-185-4-0 (all by Barnett). Shadyside 25-39-198-td-2int (all by Wach).

Receiving: Shenandoah 12-185-4 (Miley 4-53; Yates 6-109-3; Portman 2-22-td). Shadyside 25-198-3tds (Miller 5-28; Booth 8-68; Brock 9-78-3tds; Mavrikas 1-0; Micker 2-24).

First Downs: Shenandoah 12; Shadyside 11.

Penalties: Shenandoah 7-40; Shadyside 9-100.

Fumbles: Shenandoah 4-1; Shadyside 0-0.