“I felt we came out and played well besides some mistakes on our kick-off team where they got an 88 yard kick-off return,” said Barnesville Head Coach Bryan Strand.  “We controlled the tempo and the game up until half and then we got many of our kids off the field and rested up for our next game.  Noah Krause, Cameron Heng, Kaden Zenzen and Tate Inniger were all don at the half and the offensive line and backs weren’t too far behind them.  The second half was all running time so it went very quickly.  We didn’t turn the ball over or make any huge mistakes besides the kick-off coverage, but that can be easily fixed.  We were without Jonny Robideau who is a starting guard as well as our middle linebacker, as well as starting defensive end Logan Yeske, but hopefully we will get both of them back this week.  We were also without starting corner Aaron Baker, but we did get Spencer Schumacher back this week and he did a great job long snapping for us.”

Barnesville got off to a 21-8 lead after one quarter.  The scoring started with a 3 yard run by Heng and an Isaac Maneval extra point kick.  Warroad responded with their 88 yard kick return by Cole Spenst and a two-point conversion run by Gaabi Boucha which gave the Warriors an 8-7 lead.  Andrew Pederson’s 33 yard TD run and another Maneval kick put Barnesville ahead 14-8 and a 4 yard run by John Roller, followed by a Maneval kick, increased the Trojans advantage to 21-8.

In the second quarter, Krause hit Zenzen with a 15 yard TD pass and Maneval made the PAT kick for a 28-8 lead.  A two yard run by Krause and a 12 yard run by Heng, along with a pair of Maneval kicks, put the Trojans up 42-8 at the half.

The final Barnesville score of the game came on a 2 yard run by Travis Affield in the third quarter.  Warroad closed out all scoring with a 10 yard run by Boucha in the fourth quarter.

Roller led the ground attack with 110 yards on 6 carries.  The Trojans used 11 different ball carriers in the game.  Krause completed 3-of-7 passes for 27 yards.  Zenzen caught two of the completions for 14 yards.

Defensive leaders were Zenzen (QB sack, 1 solo tackle, 5 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss), Ryan Martinson (3 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss), Ethan Larson (2 solo tackles, 5 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss) and Owen Riddle (1 solo tackle, 2 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss, Interception).

“This is a fun time of the year and we expect a great game with Pelican Rapids,” added Coach Strand.  “We had a great game with them in week three in Barnesville and I would expect that again.  They have many weapons on the offensive side of the ball and do some good things defensively.  We will need a great week of prep to get ready for them.  Friday will come fast!”