SCIOTOVILLE — This time they lost their game of keep away.

In a game of limited possessions, the East Tartans won the Southern Ohio Conference Division I championship outright with a 13-6 come-from-behind win over the Symmes Valley Vikings Friday.

East had just five possessions and the Vikings four. Symmes Valley scored once and had three turnovers on its other chances.

“We couldn’t get it from them. They did to us what we like to do to other teams,” Vikings coach Rusty Webb said.

“We had two sustained drives where we fumbled. When we held onto the ball, we scored. When we turn the ball over, we don’t do well (offensively). We had our chances, we just didn’t take advantage of them.”

The Vikings came out in the second half and drove 76 yards — they converted four times on fourth down — to score their only touchdown on a 1-yard run by Chris Capper with just 1:05 on the clock.

East played copy cat on its next possession with a long scoring drive in which the Tartans converted three times on fourth down. Brian Collins finally scored on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard with 4:55 left to play.

Paul Burchett kicked the crucial go-ahead extra point.

Following back-to-back quarterback sacks, the Vikings attempted a halfback pass only to have Josh Bailey intercept the errant throw and return it 35 yards for an insurance touchdown and it was 13-6.

The Vikings then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and East was able to run out the clock.

East had the only scoring threat of the first half with a 60-yard, 16-play drive to the Vikings 7 late in the second quarter, but the Symmes Valley defense held on downs.

“Our kids never quit. When you have two goal line stands and it takes four downs to score from the 7-yard line, the defense is playing well. Our kids fought to the very end,” Webb said.

The Vikings finish the season 3-7 and 1-3 in the conference. East goes 5-5 and 4-0 in the SOC.

Symmes Valley0060=6

Ports. East00013=13

Third Quarter

SV - Chris Capper 1 run (kick blocked) 1:05

Fourth Quarter

PE - Brian Collins 1 run (Paul Burchett kick) 4:55

PE - Josh Bailey 35 interception return (kick blocked) 2:28

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SVPE

First downs1218

Rushes-yards89209

Passing yards307

Total yards129216

Com-Att-Int2-4-11-3-0

Fumbles-lost3-21-0

Punts-average1-43.01-29.0

Penatlies-yards9-539-60

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Symmes Valley: Kirt Shipley 9-31, Chuck Mullins 8-26, Robbie Miller 3-12, Chris Capper 10-20; Ports. East: Dustin Bradford 8-42, Brian Collins 11-36, Gary Truman 14-83.

PASSING-Symmes Valley: Chris Capper 2-3-0 34, Kirt Shipley 0-1-1; Ports. East: Josh Bailey 1-3-0 7.

RECEIVING-Symmes Valley: Kirt Shipley 1-5, Kyle Meadows 1-25; Ports. East: Nathan Hood 1-7.