Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The holiday season is approaching and it’s a time to help the needy.

The Symmes Valley Vikings appeared to be needy Friday night, so they helped themselves.

The Vikings did what they needed to do as they stunned the favored Oak Hill Oaks 31-28 in overtime to keep their Southern Ohio Conference I title hopes alive.

Symmes Valley is 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the SOC. They must beat Portsmouth Notre Dame next week and hope Oak Hill beats Northwest to earn a share of the title.

Oak Hill is 5-3 and 2-1 in the SOC.

“The defense stood tall when we needed to and our offense got the job done when we needed it,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

“Our kids held their composure and they made plays when they needed on both sides of the ball and on special teams.”

The Vikings only lead of the game came on Blake Bowen’s 32-yard field goal in overtime.

Oak Hill got the ball first in overtime but the Vikings held on downs. Symmes Valley gained 5 yards in three plays before calling on Bowen who kicks their long field goals.

“I am so proud of these kids. They played so hard. It was a great team effort. No one gave them much of a chance, but they just worked hard and held together,” said Webb.

Oak Hill took a 7-0 lead four minutes into the game on a 1-yard run by Matt Gilliland to cap a 56-yard, 9-play drive.

The Vikings put together a 12-play, 56-yard drive capped by Tanner Mays 3-yard run to get within 7-6.

After an exchange of punts, the Oaks moved quickly as they went 54 yards in four plays to score. Willy Harris had a 22-yard touchdown but Tyler Dement blocked the conversion kick and it was 14-6 with 5:26 left in the half.

The Vikings answered with a 66-yard, 9-play march capped by Mays’ 1-yard run with 19 seconds left on the clock. The kick was blocked and the Vikings trailed 13-12 at the half.

A 5-yard run by Harris capped a 50-yard, 9-play drive by the Oaks and Clayton Christensen’s kick put the lead at 20-12.

The Vikings recovered an Oak Hill fumble at the 24-yard line and Collin Webb scored five plays later from 5 yards out. Payton Hayes ran the conversion.

Oak Hill took a 28-20 lead on a 9-yard run by Gilliland with 5:56 left.

But the Vikings rose to the challenge with a 57-yard, 13-play drive. Brandon Craft ran the final yard for the score and Derrek Smith threw to Webb for the conversion to tie the game with 2:12 left.

Oak Hill drove 57 yards in six plays but Dillon McFann’s interception at 5-yard line with 1:16 to go in regulation ended the scoring threat.

The Vikings had 338 total yards with 223 coming on the ground. Mays had 87 yards on 15 carries and Webb added 81 yards on 18 attempts.

Smith was 11 of 17 passing for 115 yards.

Harris ran 16 times for 122 for the Oaks.

Oak Hill 7 6 7 8 0 = 28

Sym. Valley 0 12 0 16 3 = 31

First Quarter

OH — Matt Gilliland 1 run (Clayton Christensen kick) 8:09

Second Quarter

SV — Tanner Mays 3 run (kick failed) 11:31

OH — Willy Harris 22 run (kick blocked) 5:26

SV — Tanner Mays 1 run (kick blocked) 0:19

Third Quarter

OH — Willy Harris 4 run (Clayton Christensen kick) 5:11

Fourth Quarter

SV — Collin Webb 5 run (Payton Hayes run) 8:45

OH — Matt Gilliland 9 run (Willy Harris) 5:56

SV — Brandon Craft 1 run (Collin Webb pass from Derrek Smith) 2:12

Overtime

SV — Blake Bowen 32 field goal

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OH SV

First downs 13 17

Rushes-yards 37-160 54-223

Passing yards 82 115

Total yards 242 338

Cmp-Att-Int 5-13-1 11-17-0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Penalties-yards 3-15 10-112

Punts-average 3-31.7 5-30.4

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Oak Hill: Willy Harris 16-122, Matt Gilliland 13-39, Clayton Christensen 3-minus 6, Chris Coy 4-5, Andrew Kerns 1-0; Symmes Valley: Tanner Mays 15-87, Collins Webb 18-81, Payton Hayes 3-5, Derrek Smith 5-14, Brandon Craft 9-26, Cameron Meadows 4-11.

PASSING — Oak Hill: Clayton Christensen 5-13-1 82; Symmes Valley: Derrek Smith 11-17-0 115.

RECEIVING — Oak Hill: Jonathan Harrison 4-61, Chase Burdine 1-21; Symmes Valley: Collin Webb 5-73, Payton Hayes 1-7, Brandon Craft 2-9, Tanner Mays 1-11, Dillon McFann 2-15.