Barnesville Shamrocks, Union Local Jets Vying For Milk Bucket Trophy
Kim North Trending
MORRISTOWN - Barnesville head football coach Blake Allen and his Union Local counterpart, Bernie Thompson, are proud alumni of their respective schools. So, they know the significance of the western Belmont County rivalry.
It was no surprise that neither head coach wanted to talk about the upcoming Division V, Region 19 playoff picture - which both are involved in - nor did they want to talk about the past nine weeks, or anything else, with one exception.
Both were focused on beating their rival on Friday night at Jets Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 o'clock.
"To be honest, nothing else matters this week. We set a lot of long-term goals to start the season, but our top one is beating Union Local," Allen stressed. "The playoffs. The previous nine games. That all goes out the window when this week rolls around.
"We'll start worrying about the playoffs when the clock hits all zeroes Friday night."
"That's all that matters," Thompson said of this week's matchup. "We don't care about the playoffs. We don't care about anything else but beating Barnesville."
He said his team would have an offensive practice on Tuesday and a defensive practice on Wednesday. Thursday will be a walk-through.
"On Friday we'll bring it. We're excited. It's going to be a challenge," he added. "We understand we are the underdogs and that's exactly what we want to be. We have no pressure on us."
Barnesville (9-0) is looking for back-to-back perfect regular seasons in school history. It was also 10-0 in 2006 (finished 11-1) and 1992 (finished 12-1) and in 1967. The Shamrocks also went 8-0 in 1929 and 8-0-1 in 1936. They are ranked No. 5 in the region and have clinched a spot in the top 8 and a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
According to Joe Eitel's website, Barnesville could reach as high as No. 2 with a win and drop no lower than eighth with a loss.
The Shamrocks have scored an eye-popping 398 points (44.2) and given up a miniscule 48 (5.3). The high-octane offense has scored at least 35 points in all nine games and has eclipsed the 50-point mark on two occasions. Defensively, they have pitched four shutouts and only allowed double figures twice.
The Green Machine was also 9-0 last year, but had to hang for a 29-26 decision at Shamrock Stadium. In fact, Barnesville has won the past five "Milk Bucket" Trophy games, with Union Local last winning in 2017.
"Looking at their schedule and seeing them on film a couple of times, they have improved as the season has gone on," Allen said of the Jets. "They are getting better and playing with more confidence. They lost a really good senior group last year but the new guys that have stepped in have done the job.
"They are big and physical. They are well-coached. It's going to be a dogfight."
Barnesville is led by junior quarterback Casey Carpenter; senior tailback Taison Starr; and senior wideouts Duker Castello and Luke Detling. Its guys in the trenches are big, strong and mobile. Defensively, a lot of the same names, along with end Marshall Meade and down tackles Blake Kirk and Koby Jones have performed well.
Union Local (6-3) started out 3-0 before stubbing its toes in weeks 3 and 4 to Harrison Central and Beaver Local. However, a win over previously undefeated Weir - the Red Riders' lone loss - jump-started a stretch where the Jets have won three of four, the only setback coming at St. Clairsville in week 8. They rebounded with a gut-check 20-14 nod over Bellaire last week.
"We understand how talented they are. We understand that they are 9-0. They are a great team that is well-coached," Thompson added. "It's going to be a tough assignment. Any time you play in this game it's going to be physical."
With the forecast calling for a good chance at rain, Thompson said that plays into the Jets' favor.
"We get to play at home on our grass field and that is an advantage to us. I think it has shown this year, too.
The Jets come into the rivalry ranked No. 11. They control their own destiny, as far as the playoffs, go. With a win, they could finish anywhere between Nos. 8-14. A loss, however, could drop them anywhere from ninth or lower.
Does Thompson think being a young team will create some nerves?
"We've got nothing to lose in this game. I don't think the pressure will bother the kids," ne noted. "That's the good thing about having a young team, they really don't understand it. What they don't know, they don't know.
"It's week nine. We trust them and we're going to put them out there and see what happens."
In big games, special teams can play a big part and both teams have good placekickers.
"Evan (Lough) has had a really good season for us," Allen said. "He's been really consistent. There's a few things we need to clean up in our special teams, but we will."
Union Local's Jeff Bolon had never played organized football in his life, according to Thompson.
"He's really come out of nowhere," he said of the freshman soccer player/cross country runner. "He's done a tremendous job for us. He's getting better and better each week and his confidence level is rising."
Union Local has scored the exact same number of points (222) as it has given up. The Jets losses have come to teams with a combined record of 20-7 who are all playoff bound.
Sophomore quarterback Colby Carpenter has taken over for injured Isaiah Tomolonis and filled in adequately. Freshman running back Brody Perzanowski has enjoyed a breakout season with more than 1,000 yards on the ground.