Gridiron Preview: Shamrocks Seek To Preserve Streak During Homecoming Game
Kim North Trending
BARNESVILLE - It's Homecoming at Shamrock Stadium Friday night as state-ranked Barnesville welcomes Noble County rival Caldwell to western Belmont County.
The Shamrocks (6-0) are ranked No. 6 in Division V, Region 19 and will be seeking their 33rd consecutive regular-season victory, which is currently the third longest such streak in the Buckeye State. The Redskins (3-3) are 12th in Division VII, Region 27.
Barnesville and Caldwell have played 39 times, with the Shamrocks holding a 25-13-1 advantage. They have won three straight, including 41-7 last season.
The Shamrocks have scored at least 47 points in each game this season and are averaging just over 53 points per outing while limiting the opposition to 37 total points, including back-to-back shutouts over Ohio 7 river rivals River and Shadyside.
The Redskins have scored 140 points and given up 138. They knocked off Fort Frye, 34-27, last week to end a two-game slide. Their other wins have come against Waterford and Wellsville.
Cambridge at Union Local
MORRISTOWN - The unbeaten and state-ranked Jets (6-0) will also celebrate Homecoming as the winless Bobcats (0-6) venture to Jets Field. The hosts are ranked fifth in Division V, Region 19.
Union Local has outscored its opponents 241-101 and have scored at least 41 points in four of their victories and three straight games.
Cambridge has been outscored 250-40 and has only scored double figures once, that coming in a season-opening setback to Indian Creek, 41-13.
Monroe Central at Shenandoah
SARAHSVILLE - The unbeaten and state-ranked Seminoles (6-0) take their high-scoring show on the road this week as the Zeps (2-4) await. They are ranked No. 6 in Division VI, Region 23.
Monroe Central averages 49.8 points per outing and has reached at least 42 in all six contests. It yields just 8.3, recording two shutouts.
Shenandoah had dropped four straight after a 2-0 start.
Berne Union at Martins Ferry
MARTINS FERRY - The Purple Riders (5-1) have recorded back-to-back shutouts of Brownsville, Pa. (49-0) and Fairfield Christian Academy (48-0) as the Rockets (2-4) invade Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex for Homecoming.
Martins Ferry enters the contest ranked No. 12 in Division V, Region 17. The consecutive shutouts occurred after a 55-21 shellacking at the hands of powerful St. Clairsville.
The Purple Riders have also defeated Shadyside, River and Tuscarawas Valley.
Berne Union is coming off a 48-0 blanking of Millersport. It also topped Bishop Rosecrans, while falling to Newcomerstown, Trimble, Crooksville and Miller.
Ron C. Brown Prep at Wheeling Central
WHEELING - The Maroon Knights (3-2) check in at No. 11 in the latest W.Va. Class AA poll when Monarchs (2-2) visit Bishop Schmitt Field on the campus of Wheeling University.
Wheeling Central has defeated Midland Trail and Pittsburgh Perry in its last two outings, Its other win came against Fort Frye.
Ron C. Brown Prep won its first two games but has dropped its last two.
Buckeye Local at Toronto
TORONTO - The Panthers (2-4) are seeking back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they head to Clarke Hinkle Stadium in the Gem City to meet the host Red Knights (4-2).
Buckeye Local snapped a two-game losing streak last week. Its other triumph is against Shadyside. The Panthers losses have come to Bellaire, Union Local, Barnesville and Monroe Central who are a combined 22-2.
Toronto enters the matchup ranked No. 8 in Division VI, Region 21. It has wins over East Canton, Lowellville, Weir and Oak Glen. However, the Red Knights fell at home to Edison (35-19) last week.
Shadyside at River
HANNIBAL - Playoff positioning will be on the line when the Tigers (1-5) head south on Ohio 7 to meet the rival Pilots (2-4) on Homecoming at Martin Flannery Field.
Shadyside was blitzed by Barnesville last week after defeating Portsmouth Notre Dame the week before for its lone win. The Tigers have lost to Martins Ferry, Shenandoah, Buckeye Local and Frontier.
River, which sits at No. 15 in Division VII, Region 23, has won two of its last three after an 0-3 start that included losses to Colonel Crawford, Martins Ferry and Monroe Central, who are a combined 16-2. The Pilots' other victory came against Magnolia.
IN OTHER Friday games, Bridgeport (2-4) travels to Dave Caldwell Field to meet Beallsville (1-5); East Liverpool (2-4) heads to Richmond to face Edison (5-1) at the Unified Sports Complex; Conotton Valley (4-2) ventures to Beaverton at play Frontier (3-3); Indian Creek (5-1) hosts Harrison Central (1-5) at Kettlewell Memorial Stadium in Wintersville; John Marshall (0-4) celebrates Homecoming as Warren Local (4-2) visits Monarch Stadium; Paden City (1-3) treks to Van (0-5); Brooke heads to Bridgeport, W.Va. (5-0) and Oak Glen (0-5) heads to Harding Stadium on Saturday to meet Steubenville Catholic (5-1).