Titans slip past Vikings, 26-20

Published 12:42 am Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Symmes Valley Vikings did everything they wanted.

Except win.

The Vikings racked up 331 total yards but were plagued by their own mistakes in a 26-20 loss to the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans Saturday night in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

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“We moved the ball. We did everything we wanted to do, we just hurt ourselves with mistakes,” said Vikings coach Rusty Webb. “We need to finish off drives.”

The Vikings were crippled by penalties. They were whistled 16 times for 136 yards. The Titans got eight of their 17 first downs on penalties.

“Our kids played hard. They played with emotion and with desire,” said Webb. “We just need to be more consistent and execute.”

Tyler Easthom ran 23 times for 152 yards as the Vikings carried 50 times as a team for 254 yards. Kyle Bowen added 53 yards on 14 attempts.

After the Vikings defense force a three-and out to start the game, Evan Herrell returned a punt 22 yards to the Titans’ 39. On the next play, Bowen hit Easthom with a 39-yard scoring strike.

Cody Myers kicked the point after and the lead was 7-0.

Notre Dame tied the game just before the end of the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Yamnis Hadjiyannis..

Bowen came up with an interception that he returned to the Titans’ 19. Four plays later Cody Bland ran one-yard for the score and Myers’ kick put the Vikings back on top at 14-7 with 7:21 left in the half.

Notre Dame tied the game again on a 2-yard run by Thad Bowman and Alex Glockner’s conversion kick.

To start the second half, the Vikings marched 65 yards in nine plays capped by Bowen’s 2-yard touchdown run. The conversion kick failed and the Vikings led 20-14 at the 8:12 mark.

But the Titans (6-3,2-1) answered again as Brock Hannah hit Jarrod Lewis with an 8-yard scoring strike. The conversion kick failed and it remained tied at 20-20.

Notre Dame scored the winning touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Hannah to Glockner with just 4:24 to play.

The Vikings got inside the 10-yard line twice in the second half only to have the drives stall due to penalties. They also turned the ball over on downs at the 9-yard line just before time ran out.

The Vikings (4-5, 1-3) host South Gallia Friday.

Symmes Valley 7 7 6 0 = 20

Prts. Notre Dame 7 7 6 6 = 26

First Quarter

SV – Tyler Easthom 39 pass from Kyle Bowen (Cody Myers kick) 8:37

PND – Yamnis Hadjiyannis 10 run (Alex Glockner kick) 0:26

Second Quarter

SV – Cody Bland 1 run (Cody Myers kick) 7:21

PND – Thad Bowman 2 run (Alex Glockner kick) 5:45

Third Quarter

SV – Kyle Bowen 2 run (kick failed) 8:12 9-65

PND – Jarrod Lewis 8 pass from Brock Hannah (kick failed) 4:46

Fourth Quarter

PND – Alex Glockner 13 pass from Brock Hannah (pass failed) 4:24

—————

SV PND

First downs 20 17

Rushes-yards 50-254 25-90

Passing yards 77 165

Total yards 331 255

Cmp-Att-Int 2-3-0 13-29-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 16-136 7-44

Punts-average 2-34.0 2-36.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Symmes Valley: Tyler Easthom 23-152, Kyle Bowen 14-53, Evan Herrell 5-33, Cody Bland 6-14, Jesse Graybeal 1-1, Justin Payne 1-1. Prts. Notre Dame: Thad Bowman 16-57.

PASSING–Symmes Valley: Evan Herrell 1-1-0 38, Kyle Bowen 1-2-0 39. Prts. Notre Dame: Brock Hannah 13-29-1 165.

RECEIVING–Symmes Valley: Tyler Easton 1-39, Justin Payne 1-38. Prts. Notre Dame: Jarrod Lewis 5-92, Yamis Hadjihannis 6-35, Thad Bowman 1-9, Alex Glockner 1-13.