Barnesville-Martins Ferry Is Like Looking In A Mirror, Coaches Say
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MARTINS FERRY - Mirror images.
That's how Barnesville's Blake Allen and Martins Ferry's Justin Kropka think about each other's team heading into Friday night's showdown of unbeatens. Allen coached under Kropka at Harrison Central and both know each other very well.
"A lot of what we do is what they do," Allen said. "Both of us have great tailbacks and both lines are physical and come off the ball hard. Both teams are very disciplined and both quarterbacks do whatever they are asked to do.
"It's pretty rare this late in the season to have back-to-back games against undefeated opponents, I think that's pretty special and really cool."
The Shamrocks and Purple Riders will match spotless 7-0 records in the 7 o'clock kickoff at Purple Rider Stadium inside the Dave Bruney Football Complex. The game not only has Ohio Division V, Region 17 playoff implications as the Shamrocks are No. 4 and the Purple Riders No. 5, but the OVAC Class 4A and Buckeye 8 South leads are also on the line.
"We both run the same schemes," Kropka said. "Blake has taken what he learned from us at Harrison Central and has done a phenomenal job at Barnesville. It's not surprising to me at all what he's done out there. I hired him as a young coach right out of college. He used to write things down at practice and stay with me after practice to ask questions.
"He's taken our system and put his own touches on it," Kropka added. "I'm a little jealous that I didn't think of some of the things he's come up with. Obviously we both like to run the ball and, in my opinion, we both have the two best tailbacks in the Ohio Valley."
The two programs are so similar in what they do on offense, that Kropka said "we were watching film on Barnesville and the kids knew every play they were going to run by the formations they were in. That's how similar we are."
Although not playing each other during the regular season since 1997, they have always scrimmaged each other. Martins Ferry holds a commanding 5-1 advantage in the six prior meetings, with Barnesville's only win coming in 1992 by a 14-10 count. The Purple Riders have outscored the Shamrocks 190-17, including just three points in five games.
Barnesville's Trey Toliver and Martins Ferry's Walkquem Cox will be the focal points for both offenses, and deservedly so, but without the play of their offensive lines none of their success would be possible.
Barnesville's offensive front includes center Christien Hannahs; guards Austin Armstrong and Kevin Phillips; the tackles are Braxton Byers and Talon Anderson and the tight end is Jaxton Swallie. They have allowed Toliver to rush for more than 1,000 yards this season. For his career, Toliver has gained 4,684 and scored 81 touchdowns.
Proving the blocking for Cox, who has 1,293 yards and 21 touchdowns, are center Eiljah Zinn, guards R.J. Welshans and Clayton Snyder, tackles Malachi Giles and Alex Carpino and tight end Jacob Theaker.
"You never really know until you are tested," Kropka said. "I thought we looked good all summer and in our scrimmages, but I was a little surprised with our offensive line after the Union Local game because I thought we really took it to them."
Both quarterbacks have been effective when taking to the air. Senior Colt Carpenter has stepped in the starting role this season and played admirably. Likewise, his senior counterpart, Colby Kropka, has done the same.
"In my opinion, Barnesville is a regional finalist caliber of team," Coach Kropka advised. "We've got to the point where we can be competitive with those types of teams, now it's time to take that next step and beat those kinds of teams.
"They are enormous on both sides of the ball and they just wear you down. They are a big, physical team that in the past those types of teams have given us problems.
"This will be a good measuring stick for us to see how far we have come in five years. You've got to beat them because they're not going to beat themselves," Kropka continued. "They are fundamentally sound in all three phases of the game."
Allen had high praise for his senior class.
"This has always been a special group, even during the junior high days," Allen said of the group who are a combined 35-2 in the regular season and 38-5 in their careers. "They're very athletic and close knit. Their leadership has been outstanding this year. I'm very proud of them."
The Shamrocks are coming off a 34-7 whipping of previously undefeated Fort Frye last week.
"I think we played perhaps our most complete game of the season last week," Allen said. "Trey has worked his tail off and deserves all the attention and accolades, but what I am most proud about is that everyone is starring in their own personal role. Our line has to block for him and Colt has done what we've asked out of him."
Barnesville has defeated John Glenn (34-19), Meadowbrook (47-14), Bellaire (33-0), Buckeye Local (48-7), Harrison Central (68-13) and Fort Frye. The Shamrocks are averaging 44.6 points and giving up just 9.4.
Martins Ferry has victories over Mount Gilead (42-19), Columbus Mifflin (60-6), Brashear (53-15), Edison (34-0), Harrison Central (49-0), Union Local (45-20) and Buckeye Local (49-7). The Purple Riders are scoring 47.4 points an outing and giving up 9.6.