Barnesville’s Perfect Season Ends In 39-26 Loss To Girard

BARNESVILLE - All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately for Barnesville, its run of 11 consecutive victories came to an abrupt halt Friday night.

The second-seeded Shamrocks (11-1) watched No. 3 Girard score on six of its nine drives in posting a 39-26 triumph in an Ohio Division V, Region 17 semifinal playoff contest at overflowing, chill-filled Shamrock Stadium.

"These seniors have had great careers," Barnesville head coach Blake Allen said. "I was pleased with the fight they showed all year. This is one of the most resilient groups I've had here. They faced a lot of adversity this year. We had 20-plus seniors as freshmen and that dropped to 12, but they played with all of their heart tonight and I am proud of them."

The Indians (12-0) had three of those scoring drives in the pivotal third quarter when they outscored the hosts 18-7 to take a 32-14 advantage into the final 12-minute frame.

"They (Girard) had a big front and they did a good job defensively in containing us," Allen recalled. "We started to put some things together, probably should have done that sooner."

Deadlocked at 7 after a 1-yard TD run by Barnesville's Trey Toliver on the first play of the second quarter and Linas Graef's PAT, the Shamrocks got back-to-back stops of the Indians, but the offense couldn't get untracked, giving the ball back to Girard with two-and-a-half minutes left.

The six-pointer was Toliver's 100th rushing touchdown of his career. It is also an OVAC record.

The Indians picked up consecutive first downs in moving the ball to the Barnesville 16. Quarterback A.J. Pearson play-faked into the line before rifling a dart to a wide-open Joey Alejars down the left seam for six points. Maxwell Erickson's placement made it 14-7 with 28 seconds left.

Barnesville got the ball to start the second half but went three-and-out, giving the ball back to the Indians who needed just eight plays to find paydirt. Pearson ran the option right keeper to perfection in reaching the end zone from 7 yards out. Erickson's PAT was wide left, making it 20-7.

Barnesville struck right back as Toliver took a handoff through the left side of his line and outraced the Girard defense 45 yards to the end zone. Graef's placement cut the margin to 20-14.

However, a left-footed onside kick by the right-footed Graef failed to go 10 yards, giving the Indians good field position. They took advantage, going 43 yards on five plays as Pearson found Christioan Mahone in the right flat with a short pass that the 5-6, 145-pound turned into a 30-yard scoring play with a burst of speed down the far sidelines. The try for two was intercepted by Knoxx Mankin in the end zone, leaving Girard on top, 26-14.

After Barnesville came up two yards short of the first-down sticks on fourth-and-5 inside their half of the field, Girard marched 43 yards on six plays as Pearson found the end zone from a yard out. Once again the PAT was no good as the Indians led 32-14.

Toliver scored his third touchdown of the night, this one from 2 yards out on a direct snap. The TD capped an 8-play, 61-yard drive that saw Colt Carpenter complete passes of 23 yards to Joel Detling and 17 to Mankin.

The Indians successfully recovered another onside kick attempt and put the final dagger in the Shamrocks' coffin with a 2-yard scamper by Pearson. Erickson made it 39-20.

Barnesville kept battling as Carpenter speared Phoenix Graham from 4-yards out with just under six minutes remaining.

Girard appeared to be in scoring position again, but the ball was fumbled inside the 5. Toliver scooped it up and returned it to near midfield, but the drive stalled.

Toliver carried 23 times for 86 yards and finished his season with 2,463 and 102 rushing touchdowns. Carpenter was 12 of 19 for 154 and a touchdown. Graham caught four for 61.

"I just want to tell the seniors 'Thank you,"' Allen said. "This season didn't have to go this way. We had injuries in the offseason and didn't even know who our quarterback was going to be, but Colt stepped up and was just a warrior. I think you saw that tonight. I could list all of the seniors who have helped make this program what it is."

The Barnesville seniors finished their careers 42-6, with four of those losses coming in the playoffs, and only three of the setbacks coming at home. They never lost to an OVAC opponent.

Girard piled up 405 yards of offense, with 216 coming via the ground. Mahone led the way with 13 carries for 102 - all coming in the first half. Pearson finished with 69 and four TDs on 17 attempts. He also completed 13 of 19 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 64 combined (rushing/passing) scores this season.

Girard will now face No. 1 Perry (12-0) which routed No. 4 Garrettsfield Garfield, 45-0, also on Friday night.

Girard, 39, Barnesville 26

Girard 7 7 18 7 - 39

Barnes 0 7 7 12 - 26

G-Pearson 1 run (Erickson kick)

B-Toliver 1 run (Graef kick)

G-Alejars 16 pass from Pearson (Erickson kick)

G-Pearson 7 run (kick failed)

B-Toliver 45 run (Graef kick)

G-Mahone 30 pass from Pearson (pass failed)

G-Pearson 1 run (kick failed)

B-Toliver 2 run (kick failed)

G-Pearson 10 run (Erickson kick)

B-Graham 4 pass from C. Carpenter (kick failed)

RUSHING: Girard 38-216-4tds (Mahone 13-102, Pearson 17-69-4tds, Lipinski 7-40, Brown 1-5). Barnesville 33-126-3tds (Toliver 23-867-3tds, C. Carpenter 10-40)

PASSING: Girard 13-19-189-2tds (all by Pearson). Barnesville 12-19-154-td (all by Co. Carpenter)

RECEIVING: Girard 13-189-2tds (Alejars 4-41-td, Brown 4-38, Lipinski 2-51, Sloan 2-29, Mahone 1-30-td). Barnesville 12-154-td (Graham 4-61-td, Toliver 3-26, Detling 2-37, Mankin 2-22, Wells 1-8)

FIRST DOWNS: Girard 21. Barnesville 14

FUMBLES: Girard 3-1. Barnesville 1-0

PENALTIES: Girard 10-95. Barnesville 4-40