You drive down Main Street in typical Anytown, USA and the views seems pretty similar. You might pass an Ice Cream shop, a tire store, or even hang a right at the small-town diner. The sites and sounds are fairly familiar in most towns. However, our trip Friday evening was anything but ordinary, it was actually spectacular. We were not in Anytown, USA we were in Barnesville, OH!
As we approached the field nested on top of what I would call a nob. You noticed cars lined everywhere. People hosting tailgate parties with their garage doors open chatting with friends and family as they were heading into the Friday night’s match up verses the Shenandoah Zeps.
Walking into the field itself, smelling the fireplaces of the homes nearby, your mind starts to think of Norman Rockwell paintings or passages from the James Grisham book Bleachers. It’s a small-town football stadium with that wonderful natural grass field. The stands were packed with what seemed to be everyone from both Barnesville and Shenandoah. The end zones themselves were line with students at one end and adults at the other. Something that I do not recall seeing anywhere else in the Valley.
For the game itself, it did not disappoint as both teams came to play in front of the highly enthusiastic crowd. Hard hits and physical play were the name of the game on this night.
Turnovers were par for the course for both teams, especially in the first half. With both teams having their opening drives end with fumbles and it seemed neither team could control the game or the ball. Barnesville ended up forcing 4 turnovers, while Shenandoah forced 2 on the night.
However, Taison Starr was the star again this evening for the undefeated Barnesville Shamrocks. Starr a running back by trade actually threw the ball for the first touchdown of the game to Jason Costello on a beautifully executed halfback pass. Leading the Barnesville Shamrocks to a 28-14 victory, on Homecoming night, over the Shenandoah Zeps.
Starr did finish with 2 rushing touchdowns, a receiving touchdown, and the passing touchdown.
Shenandoah was led by freshman quarterback Blake Barnett and his 239 yards passing and 2 touchdowns.
With the first half being a back and forth slugfest. So much so, one particular play saw the punter for the Zeps have his helmet knocked clean off his head in his own end zone, setting up the Rocks with fantastic field position. The back and forth continued until halftime where both teams were knotted at 14 for the half.
Halftime proved eventful for Ms. Halle Markovich as she was crowned homecoming queen.
The second half was equally physical, with Barnesville defense standing tall shutting out the Zeps in the second half. Barnesville took advantage in the second half as Starr continued his stealer night with both a receiving and rushing touchdown in the second half to help secure the victory for the Rocks.
The Zeps did make a run late, but the strong defense, good clock management, and smart play calls iced it for the Shamrocks.
The Rocks host Union Local next week as the Zeps face Caldwell ad both teams look to finish strong.
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