Red Knights fall at Barnesville
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BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville Shamrocks and Toronto Red Knights have had quite the opposite fortunes the last few weeks. While the Knights and the 'Rocks started their respective seasons off in a similar fashion at 4-0, Week 5 seemed to be where the seasons stopped mirroring each other.
The Shamrocks cleared their first major hurdle of the season, with a 14-point victory over River and defeated Worthington Christian, while the Red Knights stumbled against a previously winless Oak Glen squad and took a tough 36-point loss from unbeaten Edison.
Friday evening's game saw these trends continue, as the hosts rolled to a 62-0 win to improve to 7-0 and send the banged up Knights to their third-straight loss and a 4-3 record.
"We were harping on the guys, I thought last week we got a little sloppy in the second half, so we were really harping on them and wanted to play four quarters tonight. Even when we got the running clock, we told the young guys; 'Even when you go in there, we want you to play with the same intensity' and man, they responded! A lot of guys got on the board tonight, made plays, so I'm really proud of our guys," stated Barnesville coach Blake Allen.
"I talked to Coach Franke before the game, and they are really beat up right now and they had to play some young guys. I think they are going to be fine when they get healthy. It's just kind of one of those games where a lot of lucky breaks went our way, our kids kept playing, and I'm really proud of them."
The teams traded possessions over the duration of the opening stanza until Starr picked off Reg Knights QB Zeb Kinsey to kill a Toronto drive on the hosts' 41. The Shamrocks pieced together a nine-play drive over the end of the first and start of the second, finished off when Starr followed a trio of blockers across the goal line from five yards out to score. Lough was true again for a 14-0 advantage with 11:22 left before halftime.
This could be defined as where things started to snowball for the Knights. On the ensuing kickoff, a Toronto returner allowed the ball to bounce, however instead of rolling out of bounds, as it appeared to be headed, the ball knuckled towards the end zone. Barnesville senior Easton Little proved to be an opportunist, pouncing on the pigskin for a six-pointer. Lough kicked another PAT to put the hosts up 21-0.
Barnesville's defense held strong again forcing a three-and-out with the Shamrocks taking possession at their own 25 following the punt. This time, the Red-and-Green needed just two plays, as Hannahs dropped back in the pocket and lofted an airy pass to junior wideout Luke Detling, who found position under the ball, deked a Knights cornerback, and sprinted towards the end zone for a 61-yard score. The sophomore Lough was true again for a 28-0 lead, 8:38 before halftime.
Toronto's offense found traction on their next drive, highlighted by a fake punt by Dominic Bouscher, who found daylight and ran 40 yards to the hosts' 32. Bouscher and Kinsey traded carries, getting the visitors to the Shamrocks' seven with a first-and-goal, however, the defensive unit of Barnesville, along with a personal foul call on the visitors, pushed Toronto back to the 32, snuffing out the drive.
Barnesville put seven more on the board before the bands saw the field, as Starr took a first down carry 68 yards to the house. Lough was on point again, pushing the score to 35-0 and triggering the mercy clock once the second half started.
Barnesville started the third quarter with the ball and found purchase in the end zone again, this time with Hannahs dropping a short screen to Casey Carpenter on third down, who in turn found his way around the defense to score from 35 out. Lough's PAT pushed the edge to 42-0, which stood after three.
With the benches of both teams emptied, Barnesville managed to score 20 more points in the final stanza.
Hannahs finished the night with a tidy 7-11 passing line for 152 yards and two scores, as well as 45 infantry steps and a touchdown. Starr rolled to 102 yards and a score on seven touches and Detling snagged two catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Toronto was limited to just 120 total yards and was victimized by six fumbles, three of which they lost, and a pair of interceptions.
Barnesville will look to keep things going next week when they visit Monroe Central, while Toronto will seek to right the ship against Weirton Madonna.