BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville Shamrocks finished last season with a record of 5-5. The .500 mark was much better than the previous season's 1-9 season, however Barnesville was an eyelash from finishing 6-4, falling to rival Union Local in the "Milk Jug" game in an overtime thriller, 34-27.
"With the 5-5 last season, we had a couple games get away that I thought were very winnable," related veteran Barnesville coach Luke Johnson. "We needed to execute better near the end of the games, but 5-5 was an improvement from the previous year's mark, you just always feel you can do better. We lost the Caldwell game in the last 30 seconds and we let the Union Local game slip away, which was just a heartbreaker there."
Flash forward a year, and gone are 16 seniors from that team, most notably quarterback-defensive back Dalton Smith, who was first team all-Eastern District Division V, all-OVAC Class 2-A first team, all-Ohio D-V first team and a participant in the Rudy Mumley All-Star Classic, wide receiver-defensive back Tre Greiner, who was first team all-Eastern District D-V and all-Ohio D-V special mention, and tight end-outside linebacker Tim Welch, who was second team all-Eastern District D-V and OVAC 2-A first team.
The cupboard, however, is far from bare in the land of Green and Red.
"We have a lot of returnees coming back," Johnson said. "I feel confident in Tyler Kurtz and feel his is a player and an exceptional athlete. Right now, I think we are a little bit further ahead than in years past. This is the second year for coach D.J. Butler as the offensive coordinator, so we've had a lot of review instead of a lot of new, and we are able to build on what we did last year instead of coming out brand new on the offense. I feel very confident in the people who have stepped into positions."
Taking over under center is senior quarterback Tyler Kurtz (6-1, 195), who has two letters. This won't be the first time Kurtz has been starting at quarterback, as he took over two seasons ago when Smith was injured.
Backing up Kurtz will be junior Zack Dornon (6-0, 155), who also has a pair of monograms. Also available to step under center will be freshman Eric Flowers (5-6, 150).
"Right now during practice, I feel like these kids know what to do and our foundation is really strong and D.J. (Butler) has done a good job with the offense and everything is clicking at this point," observed Johnson. "Now we are at the turning point where the kids just have to apply that knowledge on the field. It's going to be tough, but they know what they need to do. I feel like they have been very well-coached and the foundation is set. Our big thing is we have to be physical on the field and we have to execute."
As usual, the Shamrocks will have a strong running game, bolstered this season by junior fullback Jesse Stoudt (5-10, 195), who already has a pair of letters and was a special mention all-Eastern District D-V and OVAC 2-A honorable mention last year, and fellow junior two-year letterman Preston Dornon (5-9, 160), who was special mention all-Eastern District D-V last year and will play tailback. Double-letterwinning senior Kyle Morris (5-9, 195), who was second team all-Eastern District D-V last season, moves over to fullback from center, while junior Dereck Ackley (6-0, 165) and freshman David Brown (5-8, 195) will also seek time. Senior letterman Brandyn Shaw (5-6, 160) and freshman Tyler Carleton (5-9, 155) will look to spell Preston Dornon at tailback.
"The backs have vision, and you can't teach that" complimented Johnson. "They cut well and once they get the ball, they see the openings."
When Kurtz decides to go to the air, he will not be short on targets as the Shamrocks have plenty of raw depth on their receiving corps.
Zack Dornon will be a primary target, as will senior Tyler Moore (5-11, 145), who owns a pair of monograms, and fellow senior Tyler Burkhart (6-2, 165). Others contending for time are junior Luke Hunkler (6-2, 170); sophomores Colton Pritchard (5-7, 130), Brandon Burkhart (6-1, 170) and Allen Bailes (5-10, 140); and freshmen Kyle McIntire (6-1, 145), Lucas Wells (5-5, 115), Jeff Hart (5-11, 150), Josh Schnegg (5-8, 160) and D.J. Cholewinski (5-4, 103).
The Shamrocks' tight ends will have plenty of height on their side, as junior two-year letterman Tyler Fitzpatrick (6-4, 200), a second team all-Eastern District D-V choice and OVAC 2-A honorable mention pick, and senior Bryson Stephen (6-4, 215) will figure on getting the lion's share of the reps. Sophomore Garrett Woofter (5-10, 160) and freshmen Chase Huntsman (6-11, 155) and Chase Mankin (5-8, 175) will also be looking for playing time.
Junior letterwinner Ian Wells (6-2, 305) will anchor the line from the center position. Three-year letterwinning senior Andrew Burkhead (6-2, 330) could spell him, as could freshman Zack Houston (5-9, 195).
Senior letterwinners Adam Inherst (5-11, 325) and Jacob Houston (6-2, 295) will man the tackles, with Burkhead platooned as a sub, along with junior Shane Rominger (5-9, 265), sophomore Austin Kernik (6-0, 205) and freshmen Ian Williams (5-7, 170) and Ryan Myers (5-10, 330).
Dustin Starr (5-8, 195), a three-year letterwinner, and junior letterman Colin Halstrom (5-10, 265) will start at guard, with Burkhead again available to fill in, while senior Jake Kirk (5-9, 255), sophomore Dalton Starr (5-11, 215) and frosh Brandon Collins (5-9, 195) and Dustin Lancione (5-11, 175) will serve as backups.
Defensively, the Shamrocks will run a 4-4.
"I feel comfortable with our defense and feel that we will be able to make an impact on defense this season," stated Johnson.
The twin towers of Fitzpatrick and Stephen will serve as the defensive ends. Also looking to make an impact will be Wells and Lancione.
The starting defensive tackles will be Inherst and Jacob Houston, who will be spelled by Burkhead, Kirk, Hallstrom, Rominger, Dalton Starr, Williams, Zack Houston, and Myers.
Morris and Stoudt will start at inside linebacker, with Dustin Starr, Ackley, Kernik, Brown and Collins looking for playing time.
Kurtz and Shaw will start at outside linebacker and will be spelled by Brandon Burkhart, Bailes, Woofter, Huntsman, Carleton and Mankin.
Moore and Zack Dornon will be starting at cornerback, and are backed up by Tyler Burkhart, Hunkler, Pritchard, Flowers, McIntire, Wells, Hart, Schnegg and Cholewinski.
Preston Dornon, who had 98 tackles last season, is the starting free safety.
Kurtz will handle the kicking and punting duties, while Zach and Preston Dornon will field kickoffs and Zach will primarily return punts.
Other grads for the Shamrocks were tailbacks Kurtis Jefferis, A.J. Ritterbeck, Gage Hanlon and Matt Smith, wide-outs Chance Lucas, Daniel Clouse, Jourden Yager and Quentin Castello, linemen Brawn McLaughlin, Zane Reinacher, Craig Thompson, Anthony O'Neal and Austin Starr.
Joining Johnson on the coaching staff are Jayson "Snake" Stephen, the defensive coordinator; the aforementioned D.J. Butler, who coaches the offense; Bryce Allen, Camden Butler, Curtis Hallstrom and Ted Hanlon. Chris Hannahs, Dylan Rogers and Tony Starr will coach the junior high program.
The Shamrocks will host Meadowbrook, Caldwell, Buckeye Trail, Shadyside and the annual "Milk Jug" game against Union Local, while visiting John Glenn, Shenandoah, Steubenville Central (which replaces Edison on the schedule), Monroe Central and Magnolia.
"John Glenn is always a tough opener," stated Johnson. "They are a well-coached team and we'll have to be ready on Friday."
No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.
2 Eric Flowers 5-6 150 Fr. QB-DB
4 Colton Pritchard 5-7 130 So. WR-DB
5 Brandyn Shaw 5-6 160 Sr. TB-OB
6 Tyler Moore 5-11 145 Sr. WR-DB
7 Kyle McIntire 6-1 145 F. WR-DB
8 Lucas Wells 5-5 115 Fr. WR-DB
9 Luke Hunkler 6-2 170 Jr. WR-DB
10 Preston Dornon 5-9 160 Jr. TB-FS
11 Jeff Hart 5-11 150 Fr. WR-DB
12 Chase Huntsman 6-1 155 Fr. TE-OB
14 Zack Dornon 6-0 155 Jr. WR-DB
16 Tyler Kurtz 6-1 195 Sr. QB-OB
32 Tyler Carleton 5-9 155 Fr. TB-OB
33 Jesse Stout 5-10 195 Jr. FB-LB
35 David Brown 5-8 195 Fr. FB-LB
36 Kyle Morris 5-9 195 Sr. FB-LB
42 Dereck Ackley 6-0 165 Jr. FB-LB
44 Chase Mankin 5-8 175 Fr. TE-OB
50 Dustin Starr 5-8 195 Sr. OG-LB
51 Ian Wells 6-2 305 Jr. C-DE
54 Brandon Collins 5-9 195 Fr. OG-LB
55 Shane Rominger 5-9 265 Jr. OT-DT
58 Ian Williams 5-7 170 Fr. OT-DT
60 Austin Kernik 6-0 205 So. OT-LB
61 Dustin Lancione 5-11 175 Fr. OG-DE
64 Jacob Houston 6-2 295 Sr. OT-DT
65 Dalton Starr 5-11 215 So. OG-DT
66 Zack Houston 5-9 195 Fr. C-DT
67 Colin Hallstrom 5-10 265 Jr. OG-DT
72 Ryan Myers 5-10 330 Fr. OT-DT
73 Jake Kirk 5-9 255 Sr. OG-DT
75 Andrew Burkhead6-2 330 Sr. OT-DT
76 Adam Inherst 5-11 325 Sr. OT-DT
80 Tyler Fitzpatrick 6-4 200 Jr. TE-DE
81 Josh Schnegg 5-8 160 Fr. WR-DB
83 Tyler Burkhart 6-2 165 Sr. WR-DB
85 Bryson Stephen 6-4 215 Sr. TE-DE
86 Brandon Burkhart6-1 170 So. WR-OB
87 Allen Bailes 5-10 140 So. WR-OB
88 D.J. Cholewinski 5-4 103 Fr. WR-DB
92 Garrett Woofter 5-10 160 So. TE-OB
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