File Photo By Kim North Barnesville’s Evan Wells (3) runs with the ball from a game earlier this season as teammate Koby Jones (9) looks for a block. Wells had a 42-yard run that set up a touchdown Friday night, but the Shamrocks had their season ended by Wheelersburg, 36-13, in the Ohio Division V, Region 19 semifinals.

WHEELERSBURG — For the fourth consecutive year, Barnesville has seen a fine football season ended by Wheelersburg.

Friday night on the artificial surface at chill-filled Ed Miller Stadium, the top-seeded Pirates (12-0) controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball for a dominating 36-13 victory in an Ohio Division V, Region 19 semifinal playoff contest. Wheelersburg also ended Barnesville undefeated campaigns 55-31 in 2022 (2nd rd.) and 24-7 (1st rd.) in 2024 — both in western Belmont County — and 26-13 (3rd rd.) in 2023 at Hamilton Township High School in suburban Columbus.

“Obviously, we came out fighting and the kids fought until the end,” Barnesville head coach Blake Allen said. “We just couldn’t stop them on offense.”

Barnesville (9-3) took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on 13 plays using up nearly seven minutes. The Shamrocks converted three third-downs on the march that was capped by a 2-yard run by Trey Toliver. Luis Garcia added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Sparking the drive was a 42-yard connection from quarterback Cole Francis to wideout Jack Anderson on a third-and-23 from the Pirates’ 44. Francis eluded several pass rushers by reversing his field and letting the ball fly to Anderson who caught it along the far sidelines.

However, after the opening drive, the Shamrocks found the going tough against the Wheelersburg defense as they managed just 193 total yards.

The Pirates took the lead for good on their first possession as they went 61 yards on 10 plays as quarterback Braylon Rucker, who was a thorn in Barnesville’s side a year ago, bounced a carry outside to the left and into the end zone for a 23-yard score. The hosts lined up in a weird offensive formation and Rucker lobbed a pass to a wide-open Hunter Henderson along the near sidelines for an 8-7 advantage.

Heimbach recovered his own onside kick to put the Pirates right back in business at the Barnesville 47. Eleven plays later, Stephen Hall scored from a yard out and Hemibach’s PAT made it 15-7.

“That was a huge momentum play,” Allen said of the onsides kick. “The first half was going at our pace, but them gaining an extra possession there and then getting the ball to start the second half was a big key.”

Evan Wells picked off Rucker near the end of the first half. It was the first interception thrown by the senior quarterback this season.

Wheelersburg took the third-quarter kickoff and marched 80 yards on a dozen snaps — all runs — as Hall went off the left side of the line from 2 yards out to cap the 6:06 drive. Heimbach made it 22-7.

Barnesville got back on the board as Wells sprinted through a hole on the left side of the line and picked up 45 yards before being brought down at the Wheelersburg 1. Toliver crashed over the right side of the line, but the PAT was blocked.

Another long, time-consuming touchdown drive by the Pirates — 15 plays, 62 yards, 6:40 — put the hosts ahead 29-13 as Rucker went the last 2 on a QB sneak.

Following an interception by Kenyon Evans, Elijah Brown scored on a 1-yard run and Heimbach added his fourth point-after.

Toliver finished with 72 yards rushing on 14 carries, but as a team the Shamrocks only gained 88 on 26 totes. Francis was 6-of-9 for 71 and an INT. Wells went 3-of-7 for 34 and a pick. Toliver, Hines Ford and Koby Jones all had two catches each.

Rucker gained 127 yards on 15 carries, while Brown had 19 for 101 as Wheelersburg ran 42 times for 275 yards and five TDs. Hall ended with 37 yards on nine carries.

“I told our seniors that I am proud of them. I thanked them for all they have done for our program,” Allen said. “There were a lot of question marks coming into this season and to even be in this game says a lot about their leadership. We’ll miss them.”

Wheelersburg will face No. 3 Nelsonville-York, which upset No. 2 Gahanna Academy, 10-7, Friday night for the Region 19 championship. That game will be played at a neutral site to be determined by the OHSAA.