WILLOW WOOD —Sometimes it’s better to keep status quo and the continuity, but other times change is not only good, but necessary. Just ask Symmes Valley Vikings head coach Rusty Webb.

After a 1-4 start, Webb made a few changes in the lineup and helped produce a 26-13 win over the Green Bobcats Friday in the Southern Ohio Conference Division I opener for both teams.

“We changed some people around now that we’re getting healthy, and the changes seemed to help,” said Webb.

The changes included switching positions with quarterback Chris Capper and halfback Kyle Bowen, and putting guard Cody Bland at fullback.

Capper had 18 carries and rushed for 133 yards while Bland ran seven times for 31 yards and used his size to help open holes for the other backs as the Vikings rushed 40 times for 249 yards.

“Our kids played very well as a group. Chris Capper had the yards, but our offense seemed more in sync. We cut our mental mistakes down and our kids played with a lot of enthusiasm,” said Webb.

Symmes Valley went 88 yards in 12 plays on its second possession of the game with Capper running the final 7 yards for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

The Vikings’ ball-control offense limited Green to just five plays in the first quarter.

After a Green punt, Symmes Valley proceeded to go 51 yards in seven plays to score. Bowen kept the ball and raced 23 yards to make it 12-0.

The Vikings had a long drive in the third quarter, but this time it took only four plays thanks to a 64-yard touchdown scamper by Capper. Bowen passed to Capper on the conversion and it was 20-0.

Green (1-5) answered with a drive of its own capped by James McGuire’s 7-yard touchdown run. John Butler kicked the point after and it was 20-7 with 3:59 left in the quarter.

McGuire had 77 yards on 19 carries.

But the Vikings came right back, eating up the rest of the time in the quarter and 1:15 of the fourth quarter to score the clinching touchdown, a 1-yard run by Bland.

Green march 92 yards in 11 plays against the Vikings second team. Billy Moore ran 4 yards for the touchdown with 1:09 to play.

“We had better pass coverage tonight,” said Webb. “We still had a few breakdowns, but again the mental mistakes were cut down and I’m very proud of our kids.”

The Vikings’ defense allowed 254 yards with 164 coming on the ground, but only 72 against the first team.

Green0076=13

Symmes Valley6686=26

First Quarter

SV — Chris Capper 7 run (kick failed) 0:15

Second Quarter

SV — Kyle Bowen 23 run (run failed) 2:19 7-51

Third Quarter

SV — Capper 64 run (Capper pass from Bowen) 8:28

4-79

Gr — James McGuire 7 run (John Butler kick) 3:59

Fourth Quarter

SV — Cody Bland 1 run (pass failed) 10:45

Gr — Billy Moore 4 run (kick failed) 1:09

11-92

GrSV

First Downs1413

Rushes-yards41-16440-249

Passing yards9072

Total yards254321

Fumbles-lost2-22-0

Penalties-yards3-157-55

Punts-average3-26.03-36.3

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Green: James McGuire 19-77, Matt Clark 7-36, John Butler 7-19, Billy Moore 6-26, Ryan Gilpin 2-6; Symmes Valley: Cody Bland 7-31, Chris Capper 18-133, Evan Herrell 3-11, Hunter Boggs 4-23, Kyle Bowen 7-49, Jesse Graybeal1-2

PASSING—Green: Matt Clark 5-9-0 88, John Butler 1-1-0 2; Symmes Valley: Kyle Bowen 2-6-0 33, Chris Capper 1-1-0 39.

RECEIVING—Green: John Butler 1-1, Cody Stapleton 1-39, Josh Rhea 2-40, Austin Hughes 1-2, David Crisp 1-8; Symmes Valley: Ethan Wilson 2-69, Chris Capper 1-3.