MORRISTOWN – Barnesville and Union Local high schools are separated by less than 20 miles. However, they are a lot closer in the latest Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V, Region 19 ratings.
Entering Friday night’s 67th annual Western Belmont County Showdown at Jets Stadium, the Shamrocks (7-2, 15.3406) sit in the No. 5 spot, two notches ahead of the Jets (7-2, 12.9989). The top 4 teams in the region receive first-round byes in the playoffs, with Nos. 5-8 hosting first-round contests as the top 12 make the postseason. Kickoff is set for 7 o’clock.
Barnesville, which has already clinched a playoff berth, leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1959 – 41-22-3 – and has been played on an annual basis since for the coveted ‘Milk Bucket.’ The Shamrocks have won the last s