Shamrocks travel to Woodsfield to face the Seminoles

Photo by Kim North
Barnesville quarterback Casey Carpenter drops back and looks for a pass. The Shamrocks travel to face Monroe Central in a battle of undefeated teams Friday at 7 p.m.

WOODSFIELD — Something has to give Friday night here on the natural grass surface at Monroe Memorial Park when Barnesville visits Monroe Central. Both teams are undefeated (7-0) and state-ranked.

The Shamrocks enter the 7 o’clock kickoff ranked No. 6 in Division V, Region 19, while the Seminoles are 7th in Division VI, Region 23.

Barnesville leads the all-time series (including games against Woodsfield High School) 42-24-2 and has a 15-9 advantage against Monroe Central, including five consecutive victories and wins in six of the last seven contests. The Seminoles prevailed 36-14 in 2017 and strung together eight straight triumphs from 2008-2015.

The rivals have met every year since 1999 when they met twice — once in the playoffs — but didn’t play during the COVID 2020 season.

The scoreboard operator could be the busiest person at the game as both teams have high-scoring offenses and stingy defenses. Barnesville averages 52.6 points a game and yields a mere 5.3, while Monroe Central checks in at 47.6 and 7.1, respectively. The Shamrocks have scored at least 44 points in each game and have pitched three consecutive shutouts, only allowing double figures twice (Fort Frye 16). The Seminoles have reached at least 34 points in each contest and have also thrown three shutouts, two coming in the last two weeks.

Both head coaches — Barnesville’s Blake Allen and Monroe Central’s Jonathan Calder — have been impressed with what they’ve seen from their opponent.

“We’ve faced some good teams this season, but they are by far the best team we’ve faced,” Allen stressed of the Seminoles. “They have some really athletic kids. They spread it out and throw it, but they can also run the ball. Defensively, they fly around to the ball and are very quick.”

Calder said “They are a good, sound football team. They don’t do anything special. They run the ball right at you and make you stop them.”

Both teams possess outstanding quarterbacks in Casey Carpenter (Barnesville) and Tucker Howell (Monroe Central). Both were Eastern District Offensive Players of the Year in 2023 and have carried those performances over to this season.

Carpenter, a southpaw, has passed for 915 yards and 16 touchdowns on 54 of 70 (77 percent). Howell is 51 of 81 (63 percent) for 1,228 yards and 18 TDs.

“Casey’s decision making has been outstanding this year,” Allen said. He has a lot of poise back there and puts the ball in the right places.

“The biggest thing about Howell is his ability to extend plays,” Allen continued. “You might think you’ve got him on a broken play, but the next thing you know he goes 70 yards for a touchdown. We have to be very disciplined on defense and do our jobs. We have to gang-tackle him when we get the chance.”

Howell has also ran 46 times for 651 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Calder said it’s been a blessing to have a player like Howell.

“He is a heckuva player. He’s pretty special. He can run the ball, he can throw the ball. He has a very strong arm but he can also put some finesse on the ball. In my opinion, he is a legit college quarterback but it’s hard to get looks at the Division VI level.”

Barnesville, however, isn’t a one-man team as sophomore tailback Trey Toliver has also drawn the liking of Calder.

“Their running back is the toughest one I’ve seen in a while,” the Monroe Central head coach noted.

Toliver has rushed for 728 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 67 attempts, which averages out to 10.8 per carry. Koby Jones has scored eight touchdowns among his 39 carries and 354 yards.

“Trey is special. He’s a student of the game. He is eager to learn and get better every day in practice. Koby is an unselfish player,” Allen added. “He does a lot of dirty work like blocking, but he is a physical runner.”

Cam Carpenter is the unsung hero for Barnesville. The junior is the leading receiver with 16 receptions for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He averages 11 yards a carry on eight trips with the ball and has scored a TD. Defensively, he has charted 29 total tackles, recovered two fumbles, picked off a pass and broke up another. He is also a terror on special teams.

“Cam is a coach’s dream. He is like a coach on the field,” Allen said.

Calder said the success of the Seminoles can be attributed to leadership.

“It really helps to have 13 seniors. This is the season we’ve been looking for. It’s my second year as head coach and it’s the kids’ second year with the same playbook and same coaching staff,” he said. “This is a good group of kids. We have 5-6 skilled guys that can take it the distance at any time.”

When Casey Carpenter looks to pass his favorite targets, in addition to Cam Carpenter, are Bradey McIntire (18-370-9 TDs), Eli Messenger (4-82-2) and Colt Carpenter (11-93-1).

AJ Rutter (31-273), Cooper Howell (28-268-6) and Evan Knowlton (14-221-3) give Monroe Central some additional firepower on the ground. Cooper Howell is the leading receiver (16-326-2) while Chance Allen (10-425-7) is a deep threat. Corbin Farnsworth (8-240-4) adds depth to the receiving corps.

Both teams possess outstanding placekickers in Evan Lough (Barnesville) and Wyatt Cohen (Monroe Central). Lough set a program record for PATs in a game earlier this season and is 42 of 45 for the season. Cohen is 29 of 43.

Farnsworth leads the Seminoles with 61 total tackles and 11 quarterback sacks.Hines Ford has a team-best 63 total tackles for the Shamrocks.