photo by: Kim North

Barnesville’s Evan Wells (3) runs with the ball as Koby Jones (9) looks for a block Friday night. The Shamrocks rolled to a 34-0 grounding of the Jets to retain possession of the coveted “Milk Bucket” Trophy.

MORRISTOWN – Both head coaches agreed earlier in the week that Friday night’s high school football game between Barnesville and Union Local would be won in the trenches.

The Shamrocks (8-2) rushed for 332 yards on 30 carries and held the Jets (7-3) to 166 total yards in a 34-0 rout on the natural grass surface at chill-filled Jets Stadium. Barnesville piled up 394 yards of offense.

With the win, not only did the Shamrocks retain possession of the coveted “Milk Bucket” Trophy for the eighth consecutive season, but could have also secured a Division V, Region 19 first-round bye pending the Ohio High School Athletic Associations’ ruling on Ironton. Barnesville entered the contest rated No. 5, but, according to reports, No. 2 Ironton has been accused of some punishable actions.

Union Local was eighth. It, most likely, will be on the road in round one.

The final ratings will be released late Sunday afternoon, with the top 4 teams in each division receiving a bye in the first round. Nos. 5-8 will host home games in the first round on Friday, Oct. 31.

“”I’m so proud of these kids. The second half of our season was brutal, but we knew that going in. It was week after week, war after war, but we learned a lot on that stretch,” Barnesville head coach Blake Allen said. “To come out of those five games 3-2, win the OVAC (Class 3A) if my math was right and have a shot at a (first-round) bye, I’m so proud of these kids.”

The Shamrocks were led by a 14-carry, 217-yard, 3-touchdown performance by Trey Toliver, with 167 of those coming in the first half when Barnesville roared to a 20-0 advantage and never looked back. They scored on three of their first-half possessions. The only series they did find the end came when they were stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

His play speaks for itself, but he is a great kid and so humble,” Allen said of his junior tailback. “He’s one of the hardest workers we have, so it doesn’t come by accident. He has talent and ability, but he works hard and it shows.”

“First and foremost, I want to give all the credit to the man above Jesus Christ,” Toliver said. “I couldn’t ask for a better (offensive) line. I love those guys. Without those guys, I’m nothing.”

After forcing a Union Local punt to start the game, Toliver went off the right side of his line behind center Christian Hannahs, guard Dillon Lucas and tackle Gavin Morris and dashed 69 yards to paydirt. Luis Garcia was perfect on the first of his four PATs for a 7-0 lead.

Backup quarterback Evan Wells scampered around left end for 60 yards on Barnesville’s next series of downs. His carry took the ball to the Jets’ 20, but the defense stiffened and held Cole Francis on a quarterback sneak from the 1 on fourth down.

Barnesville’s defense, led by Morris and Kaiden Berry at the tackles; Koby Jones and Hannahs at ends and Hines Ford and Logan Craker at inside linebacker, forced a Union Local from its end zone.

The Shamrocks took over at the Jets’ 39 and needed just four plays to reach the end zone as Toliver crashed over the right side from 3 yards. Garcia made it 14-0. Sparking the drive was a 29-yard completion from Francis to Colt Carpenter.

Following another Colby Carpenter punt, Toliver followed the blocking of Hannahs, left guard Braxton Byers and left tackle Mac Cacioppo and sprinted 67 yards to the promised land. This time the try for two failed, leaving the count at 20-0.

When asked if he would ever be caught from behind, Toliver quickly responded, “No … no.”

Ford scored from 4 yards and Francis found Jones on a 15-yard swing pass – both in the third quarter – as the OHSAA 30-point mercy rule kicked into effect as the clock ran continuously for the remainder of the contest.

“We didn’t play well. In a big game like this, you can’t make mistakes, and we did,” Union Local head coach Bernie Thompson said. “Credit to them. They are a good team and you can’t make mistakes against good teams like them. We hurt ourselves a lot, but the season isn’t over. We’re going to get back to work and make something happen.”

Brody Perzanowski, Union Local’s all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdowns, was hemmed up. The junior picked up 73 yards on 22 carries.

Wells had 76 yards on three carries and caught one pass for nine yards. Carpenter caught two passes for 38 yards as Francis was 4-of-8 for 62 yards.

Both teams had six penalties for 50 yards.

Francis and Jack Anderson had interceptions for Barnesville. Wells also had a recovery of a muffed punt.