Barnesville Football Defeats Fort Frye 34-7
The Barnesville Shamrocks football team improved to 7-0 and played the role of homecoming spoiler in Beverly Friday night, handing the Fort Frye Cadets their first loss of the season.
Barnesville’s Trey Toliver scored four rushing touchdowns and quarterback Colt Carpenter repeatedly came up big on third downs, converting on five of the six that the Shamrocks faced, several in long-yardage situations.
After two shaky plays from Barnesville to open the game, a third-down pass from Carpenter to Phoenix Graham got the drive back on track. The drive resulted in Toliver’s first rushing touchdown of the night.
A quick three-and-out from Fort Frye gave the ball back to the Rocks. Two plays later, Toliver found the end zone again, this time on a 48-yard run. A successful conversion pass from Carpenter to Jaxten Swallie put Barnesville up 14-0.
Sam Bricker rushed for a pair of first downs on their next possession but the Cadets were forced to punt back to the Shamrocks after the drive stalled.
Barnesville then put together a 13-play drive highlighted by two third-down conversions from Colt Carpenter, one through the air to Swallie and the other on the ground. Carpenter capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. A failed two-point conversion left the Rocks up 20-0.
Another three-and-out from the Cadets put the Shamrocks back in possession. Colt Carpenter came up big again on another third-and-long, this time a pass to Evan Carpenter. A 36-yard touchdown run by Toliver and an extra point by Linas Graef put Barnesville up 27-0.
Colt Carpenter quickly ended Fort Frye’s ensuing drive after intercepting a third-down pass attempt.
Fort Frye opened the second half with a penalty-heavy three-and-out. Colt Carpenter converted yet another third down, a pass to Joel Detling, and Toliver broke free for his second 48-yard touchdown run, his fourth touchdown of the game. Graef added the extra point, giving Barnesville a 34-0 lead.
The Cadets gained three first downs on their next drive, only to turn it over on downs on a fourth-and-eight. After Barnesville’s only three-and-out of the game, Fort Frye took advantage of good field position to avoid the shutout on a seven-yard touchdown scramble by Grady Hesson.
The Shamrocks salted the game away on their final possession to secure the 34-7 victory.
As a team, Barnesville ran for a total of 303 yards on 38 carries and five touchdowns. Toliver led the way with 227 yards on 22 carries, an average of 10.3 yards per attempt. Colt Carpenter added 45 yards on 11 carries.
Carpenter also went 8-for-10 passing for a total of 84 yards, distributing the ball to five different receivers, Detling, Swallie, Graham, Evan Carpenter, and Evan Wells.
Fort Frye will look to rebound next week when they host the Marietta Tigers. Barnesville will travel to take on the undefeated Martins Ferry Purple Riders, a game that will weigh heavily in both teams’ Region 17 playoff positioning.
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