Photo by Kim North Barnesville tailback Taison Starr breaks from a block during Friday’s Ohio Division V, Region 19 quarterfinal at Shamrock Stadium against Columbus Academy.

BARNESVILLE — When the playoffs roll around, no matter the sport, it’s all about surviving and advancing. Barnesville did just that Friday night.

The No. 3 seed Shamrocks (12-0) led 13-0 after one quarter; trailed 14-13 at the half and took a 19-17 advantage into the fourth quarter before watching a 28-yard Columbus Academy field goal attempt sail wide left with 3-minutes, 9-seconds left to hold on.

“It’s all heart. That’s what this team is all about … heart and grit,” an elated Barnesville head coach Blake Allen said. “I told the kids we were going to have to face some adversity at some point. We hadn’t had to all season, but I was very pleased with the way they battled back.”

With the hard-earned victory, Barnesville set up a rematch with No. 7 Wheelersburg next Friday at a site to be determined on Sunday. Two places mentioned were Athens and Marietta for the Region 15 semifinal. The No. 7 Pirates (8-3) blanked No. 15 Portsmouth, 34-0, last night. They also ended Barnesville’s season last winter.

“This has been 12 months in the making,” Allen said of the rematch. “We fought with them for three quarters last year, but I didn’t think we were able to compete with them for four quarters. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

Abe Ulrich had pulled the No. 6 Vikings (10-2) the final margin with a 40-yard field goal with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter. However, the visitors got the ball back with a little more than eight minutes left on an interception by Gave Davis-Ray at his own 37.

On the first Columbus Academy snap, tailback Greyson Thomas carried for 57 yards to the Barnesville 17. Thomas gave the Vikings a first-and-goal at the 2, but backup quarterback Cole Spalding was tackled for a 2-yard loss by Marshall Meade. After a timeout by the Vikings, linebacker Taison Starr shot through a gap and hauled down Thomas for another loss of two.

On third-and-goal from the 6, Spalding lost five more. Ulbrich’s kick was off to the left as the Shamrocks and their faithful celebrated.

“Marshall has got a motor on him,” Starr said. “When the big dog gets going, he’s tough to stop. That was a big play he made.”

“I can’t be more proud of the way we responded there at the end. We could’ve packed it away and let them score a touchdown, but these kids aren’t like that,” Allen stressed. “They came up with a couple of big plays on defense and made the field that much longer.”

However, the hosts still had to run three minutes off the clock before the job was finished, but Columbus Academy only had one time out left. Starr capped his outstanding night with four straight carries that forced the Vikings to use their final timeout.

The senior returning all-stater ran the ball a career-high 35 times for 158 yards. His 1-yard TD run capped a 13-play-70-yard opening drive that chewed up just over six minutes off the clock. Evan Lough’s PAT made it 7-0.

“I love my offensive line,” Starr stressed. “I love them to death. When things got tough I told them this is our time. They took it well and did their jobs.

Following a Vikings’ three-and-out, Barnesville needed just two plays to make it 13-0. On first down, Duker Castello took a pitch right, pulled up and threw a strike to Camden Carpenter that resulted in a 40-yard catch-and-run. On the next play, Casey Carpenter found his cousin, Cam, on a screen left that he weaved his way through traffic with for a 20-yard score.

The point-after, however, was blocked.

The Shamrocks stalled on their first offensive possession of the second quarter and Lough’s punt was downed at the Vikings’ 29.

Quarterback Jack Yeoman found fullback Mikey Jauchius on a middle screen. The 200-pounder rumbled down the middle of the field before cutting to his left and tight-roping the far sideline for a 71-yard scoring play. Ulbrich’s placement cut the deficit to 13-7 with 10:30 left in the first half.

Columbus Academy’s Ryne Whitt recovered a Barnesville fumble at the Shamrocks’ 40 and the Vikings scored quickly to take their first lead. After a 5-yard penalty, Thomas picked up 18 and then went off right tackle for 27 and a touchdown. Ulbrich’s PAT put the visitors on top, 14-13, with 8:28 showing.

Lough attempted a 30-yard field goal in the waning moments of the first half, but it was wide and a little short.

Before the half ended, Yeoman took a vicious – but legal – hit from Hines Ford that led to him being helped off the field. He watched the second half from the sidelines on crutches. Spalding never attempted a pass after that.

“I thought, for the most part, we controlled the game in the first half,” Allen noted. “They (Columbus Academy) had two big plays. The screen pass where we missed some tackles and then they capitalized on our turnover. Other than that, I really thought we controlled the game.”

A little bit of trickery gave Barnesville the lead back. After forcing Columbus Academy to punt on the opening possession of the second half, Starr lost a yard on first down, but the Vikings defense lost track of Luke Detling, who was lined up all alone along the Barnesville sideline. Carpenter took the snap and quickly fired to Detling in stride at the 50 and he outran everyone to the end zone to completed a 63-yard scoring strike. The two-point pass attempt failed, leaving the hosts on top 19-14.

Starr is just shy of 1,200 yards (1,197) and has scored 19 rushing touchdowns. Carpenter added to his single-season touchdown pass record with two and now has 30.

“We try to keep him fresh throughout the year. He’s a special talent,” Allen said of Starr. “This is what he wants. He wants the ball in these type of games. He wants to carry the load, and he did tonight.”

Detling caught three passes for 90 yards. Camden Carpenter had 63 yards on three receptions.

Barnesville did not commit a penalty.

The Shamrocks finished with 317 yards of total offense, while they gave up 269.