Kage Rohde scrambled for 115 yards and scored five touchdowns to help power Magnolia to a 46-6 victory over Barnesville on Homecoming Night, Oct. 19, at Alumni Field.

The Shamrocks took the opening kick, but after a Rohde quarterback sack, the Big Blue defense held, forcing a three-and-out and a ‘Rock punt.

It only took Rohde a few seconds to put Magnolia on the scoreboard as he took the handoff and scampered 49 yards to paydirt for a quick 6-0 lead.

On Barnesville’s next possession, Jake Brill jumped on a loose ball at the Shamrock 48 yard line. Barnesville held the Eagles to a fourth and inches, with Tanner Hanna picking up a new set of downs on a three-yard keeper.

After an 11-yard pitch-and-catch by Drew Keller, and a 16-yard end around by Stephen Rogalski, the Eagles were knocking on the door at the Shamrock nine yard line. Hanna connected with Rohde, who scored his second touchdown and gave the Eagles a 13-0 advantage after the Clements Raitmayr conversion kick.

The Eagles held Barnesville and would start their next drive in Shamrock territory. Magnolia picked up a first down on a Hanna-Rogalski pitch-and-catch. After a Keller eight-yard scamper, Hanna would be picked off in the end zone to end the first quarter of action.

After holding the ‘Rocks once more, the Eagles went right back to work. After two straight positive Keller runs, and an incomplete pass, Hanna hooked up with freshman tight end Kyle Ritz for a 26-yard gain. Rogalski added some positive yardage, which was added to by a face mask penalty.

Keller took it to the one yard line before Zach Arrick capped off the drive for another Magnolia touchdown. After Raitmayr’s extra point kick, the Eagles were up 20-0.

The Big Blue defense put the hurt on the ‘Rocks when pressure from Ritz forced another Barnesville punt, which was shanked and went out of bounds at the Shamrock 14 yard line.

With the Eagle front line opening huge holes, Rohde waltzed into the Promise Land to make it 26-0. Afterward, Barnesville turned the ball over yet again at the 20 yard line, with Brill recovering for Magnolia. After a short gainer by Keller, Rohde would make his fourth TD with a 17-yard run.

The Shamrock kick returner mistook the ensuing kick for a punt and just watched it roll on the ground until Gage Deem recovered the ball on the ‘Rock nine yard line. Two plays later, Keller scored again for the Blue Eagles.

The next Blue Eagles’ drive began at their own 32 yard line when junior halfback Yale Wetzel carried the ball for three consecutive plays and Hanna took a knee to let time expire on the first half with Magnolia in front 39-0.

During half time ceremonies, MHS Principal Kathi Schmalz would crown Hannah Glow as Magnolia’s 2012 Homecoming Queen.

In the Eagles’ first drive of the second half, it was all Keller and Rohde. Both came up big with multiple

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runs of 10 or more yards that moved the ball to the Shamrock one yard line where Rhode scored one final time for a 46-0 lead after the PAT.

With most of the Eagle starters on the bench, the ‘Rocks caught Magnolia napping on a 85-yard pitch-and-catch in the third to break up the shutout.

On the Eagles’ opening play of the fourth quarter, MHS freshman speedster Jarrod Kacor took the ball on a sweep and raced 30 yards to the ‘Rock 31 marker. Positive runs by freshmen Tyler Anderson, Hunter Brill, and Carter Seckman set the Eagles up for a first and goal at the Barnesville 10.

However, the Eagles would be forced to turn the ball over on downs at the ‘Rock five yard line. However, a few plays later, Magnolia repossessed the ball on a fumble recovery and freshman quarterback Brandon Mason took a few kneel downs to run out the clock.

Rohde paced the Eagles with 115 yards rushing and a career-high five touchdowns on only seven touches, while Keller added 78 yards and scored a touchdown. Other Blue Eagle runners gaining yardage include Kacor, 30 yards; Rogalski, 20 yards; Anderson, 18 yards; Wetzel, 13 yards; Brill, nine yards; Hanna, seven yards; Seckman, four yards; Mason, one yard; and Arrick, a one-yard touchdown.

Hanna attempted 4-6 passes for 54 yards and an interception. The Blue Eagle offense ground out 283 yards rushing, while holding Barnesville to one yard rushing on 14 carries for the game. Magnolia moved then chains 17 times to only once for the Shamrocks, and didn’t have any penalties, while Barnesville was guilty of three infractions for 20 lost yards. Magnolia turned the ball over three times to eight for Barnesville.

The Eagles will host Steubenville Catholic Oct. 26 before ending the regular season at Alumni Field Nov. 2 against Oak Glen, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. for both contests.