Wheeling Central Visits Barnesville As Shamrocks Hold Homecoming
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BARNESVILLE - A pair of teams riding hot streaks will collide Friday night at what-should-be a jam-packed Shamrock Stadium for Homecoming 2026 as Barnesville welcomes Wheeling Central.
The Shamrocks (8-0) are No. 2 in the most recent Ohio Division V, Region 17 ratings and have won 55 of 58 regular-season contests since 2021. Meanwhile, the battle-tested Maroon Knights (4-3) check in at No. 5 in the latest W.Va. Class A poll.
Barnesville is coming off a gut-check, 25-21, victory at Martins Ferry last week in a game that came down to the final play to decide the winner.
"Really since week 1, that's the first time we've been in a one-score game in the second half. We needed it," Barnesville head coach. It's easy when things are going well and you're ahead, but we wanted to see how the kids would respond with their backs against the wall."
Respond they did.
"First-and-goal on the 8-yard line with one of the best running backs in the Ohio Valley and one of the hardest to tackle, for us to be able to tackle him three straight times I thought showed our toughness and grit," Allen said.
The Purple Riders threatened as time was winding down, but senior Evan Carpenter leaped in front of Martins Ferry's Jakori Cox to intercept a fourth-down pass after a bad snap to thwart the hosts.
"Evan had an outstanding game. He's a true Shamrock. A four-year letterman who has played a role in his first three seasons. He has really stepped it up and came up big Friday night when we needed it," Allen said. "Martins Ferry, unfortunately, had the bad snap but I thought (Colby) Kropka did a phenomenal job to even get the ball off, but Evan went straight for it and picked it off."
Following back-to-back weeks on the road at Fort Frye and Martins Ferry, a date with Wheeling Central isn't going to be easy.
"We knew this stretch was going to be a challenge. Wheeling Central may be 4-3 but they are a handful of plays away from being 7-0," Allen said of this week's opponent. "This could be our third straight week of facing an undefeated team. They play a very tough schedule and they’ve gotten a lot better.
"They have a lot of seniors and their quarterback is an athlete and they have a physical running back. We'll have our hands full this week."
The Maroon Knights, after a 1-3 start that included losses to Fort Frye (29-27), Ridgewood (14-12) and Union Local (24-13), have gotten back on the winning track with wins over Monroe Central (21-14), Windber, Pa. (28-0) and Nitro (48-7).
"Good wins over good teams. Nitro plays a big schedule. I'm proud of how our kids responded after a road trip to Windber, Pa.," veteran Wheeling Central head coach Mike Young said. "We're starting to gel ... starting to come together.
"I said this in the beginning. This is a challenging schedule we've put together this season," Young continued. "It is what it is, but if we get enough points to get into the postseason, I definitely think we can make some noise."
As for this week?
"Barnesville is a very big team. They run the ball well and they play hard," Young added. "We've got some size on our lines so I think we can hold our own. I think our kids know they can. This is what Friday Night lights is all about."
Young said the Maroon Knights will need to receive some good play in the trenches.
"Getting off the ball. Block and tackle. If we can continue to do that I think we'll be alright."
However, the Shamrocks possess a pair of oversized defensive tackles that will make life tough in seniors Kaiden Berry 6-4, 320) and Braxton Byers (6-3, 290).
"When you have two kids of that size it allows the linebackers to make a lot of tackles," Allen said. "Kaiden only plays on defense, but Braxton plays both ways. We try to get him off the field for some plays. Talon Anderson was phenomenal Friday night. He has just gotten better and better. Those linemen do all the dirty work and never get their names in the newspaper, so it's nice to see them get recognized."
Wheeling Central's offensive line consists of center Luca Benson (5-9, 205); guards Dom Paesani (5-11, 260) and Olen Ames (5-11, 230); and tackles Trent Lander (6-2, 250) and 6-0, 275).
Barnesville is led by senior tailback Trey Toliver who has run for 1,578 yards on 150 carries and reached the end zone 31 times. Quarterback Colt Carpenter has connected on 74 percent of his passes (40-54) for 697 yards and six TDs against one interception. Phoenix Graham (15-212-TD) and Evan Carpenter (10-199-2) are the leading receivers.
After a pair of
Wheeling Central's Dustin Sanner, a Drake University commit, has rushed for 756 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Nico Kusic, also a senior, is a dual threat with 556 yards and five touchdowns via the air while running for 443 and seven scores. Levi Rine (21-210-3) and Brady Ernest (9-214-TD) are the top receivers.