Barnesville Football Defeats Union Local 42-35
The Barnesville Shamrocks ended their varsity football regular season undefeated with a 42-35 win over rival Union Local, who fell to 7-3. With the win, Barnesville will keep possession of the Milk Bucket and extend their winning streak over the Jets to nine straight.
In a game that will be remembered for quick strikes and long touchdowns, two critical fourth-down stops by Barnesville, one in the first quarter and one in the fourth, ended up being the difference in the game.
The Rocks wasted no time getting on the board. Behind great blocking from the line, Trey Toliver rumbled 68 yards untouched to the end zone for his first rushing touchdown. Linas Graef added the point-after kick to put Barnesville up 7-0 just 17 seconds into the game.
After the two teams traded punts, the Jets looked like they were in business late in the first quarter with first-and-goal from the one-yard line. However, they were unable to cash in after three stops by the Shamrock defense and a high snap on fourth down that turned the ball back to Barnesville.
With the Shamrocks unable to advance the ball on the ensuing possession, Union Local’s Evan Poziviak found an open Eli Rogers for a 74-yard touchdown pass. Jeff Bolon’s point-after attempt was good, tying the game 7-7.
Barnesville struck quickly on another long Toliver touchdown run, this one 76 yards. With the successful point-after by Graef, the Shamrocks lead was again 7 points. The Jets fumbled the kickoff, giving the ball back to the Rocks. One play later, Colt Carpenter connected with Knoxx Mankin for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Another successful Graef PAT had Barnesville up 21-7.
Union Local’s response was swift, with Rogers catching another pass from Poziviak and darting 86 yards to the end zone. Bolon added the point-after to cut the lead to 21-14.
After working their way down the field, Barnesville’s Toliver tallied his third touchdown of the night on a 19-yard run to put the Rocks up 27-14. But the Jets trimmed the lead again on their next possession behind four straight carries from Brody Perzanowski, including a 49-yard touchdown run.
After a Barnesville three-and-out and a Union Local missed field goal attempt, the half ended with the Shamrocks up 27-21.
The Jets opened the second half with their longest drive of the night. The 12-play, 65-yard drive was capped by Perzanowski’s nine-yard touchdown run. The successful point-after gave Union Local its first and only lead of the night, 28-27.
Barnesville regained the lead just under seven minutes later, when Colt Carpenter’s screen pass to Toliver sent him rolling 51 yards for six. Toliver then carried in the two-point conversion to put the Rocks back up 35-28.
Just four plays later, the game was tied again on Perzanowski’s third rushing touchdown of the night with 8:41 left in the game. Barnesville then put together a drive that took 6:24 off the clock, ending with a four-yard touchdown run by Toliver. The successful point-after put the Shamrocks back up 42-35 with just 2:09 remaining.
The Jets worked quickly down the field to the 17-yard line, but a desperation pass on fourth down fell incomplete, and the final score stood at 42-35.
Barnesville’s Trey Toliver finished the night with 231 yards on 21 carries and four rushing touchdowns; he added 51 yards receiving and an additional touchdown. Union Local’s sophomore quarterback, Evan Poziviak, was impressive in defeat, going 10-for-14 for 318 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Perzanowski led the UL rushing attack with 168 yards on 22 carries and 3 touchdowns.
With the win, Barnesville is guaranteed a first-round bye and a second-round home game in the upcoming Division V, Region 17 playoffs, while Union Local will wait for the final Harbin rankings to find out its fate in Division IV, Region 15.
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