Barnesville Football Defeats Martins Ferry 25-21
The Barnesville Shamrocks handed the Martins Ferry Purple Riders their first loss of the season in a prizefight between the Region 17 heavyweights. After trading proverbial haymakers all night, the Rocks landed the final blow and won with a final score of 25-21.
Barnesville opened the game with a 10-play, 61-yard drive with Trey Toliver handling the bulk of the carries. He capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run to put the Shamrocks up 6-0.
Martins Ferry responded with a 10-play drive of their own that was derailed when a Talon Anderson sack led to the Purple Riders turning the ball over on downs.
The Rocks were unable to get anything going on their second drive, going three-and-out and punting the ball back to Martins Ferry.
The Purple Riders were unable to make any headway on their possession. A strip-sack by Anderson and a recovery by Kaiden Berry gave the ball back to Barnesville. The Shamrocks made them pay one play later, with Evan Carpenter getting behind the defense and catching a pass from Colt Carpenter for a 45-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, putting the Rocks up 12-0.
Martins Ferry took advantage of good field position on their third drive, and runs by Jakori Cox, Walkquem Cox, and Jacob Ball, along with a pass from Colby Kropka to Elijah Roby, helped set up a six-yard touchdown run by Walkquem Cox. The Purple Riders tacked on the extra point.
Both defenses came up with big plays throughout the remainder of the first half, with a sack from Martins Ferry’s Malaki Giles and a third sack and second forced fumble by Barnesville’s Anderson, who also recovered the ball. The half ended with the Shamrocks up 12-7.
The Purple Riders marched down the field to open the third quarter on a 12-play drive, only to again turn the ball over on downs in the red zone. The Shamrocks responded with a 14-play drive resulting in a seven-yard touchdown run by Toliver. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Barnesville up 18-7.
But Martins Ferry refused to go away, responding with a quick five-play drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Kropka to Roby and a three-yard run by Roby to convert on the two-point attempt. After a failed onside kick, Barnesville answered quickly, as outstanding blocking from the offensive line sprung Toliver for a 42-yard touchdown run. With Linas Graef’s extra point good, the Rocks were up 25-15 with just 5:40 left in the game.
The Purple Riders again showed their resilience, rattling off an 86-yard, seven-play drive in just 2:16, finished off by an 18-yard touchdown run from Jakori Cox. The two-point conversion failed, but the onside kick was successful, and Martins Ferry found itself down just four points, 47 yards from the end zone with 3:17 remaining in the game.
They ran the ball on the next seven plays but found themselves six yards out on fourth-and-goal. The snap on the play got past Kropka, who recovered the fumble and managed to get off a desperation pass to the end zone, only to have it intercepted by Evan Carpenter to end the Purple Riders’ comeback attempt.
Watch the last seconds of the game on a clip posted on the Buckeye 8 Athletic Conference Facebook page.
Video courtesy of Buckeye 8 Athletic League
The two teams combined for a total of 449 yards rushing as the game turned into a running back duel. Toliver led the way for the Shamrocks with 149 yards on 26 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Walkquem Cox carried 28 times for the Purple Riders for 123 yards and a touchdown.
With the win the Shamrocks have clinched their spot in the Division V playoffs.
Barnesville will be back in action next Friday with a Week 9 match-up at Shamrock Stadium against the Wheeling Central Catholic Maroon Knights. Martins Ferry will look to bounce back next week against a Division III foe from Toledo, the Woodward Polar Bears.
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