PORTSMOUTH — The Symmes Valley Vikings bounced back by bouncing the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans.

After losing to Oak Hill last week in a game to decide first place in the Southern Ohio Conference Division I race, the Vikings rebounded with a 34-0 win over the Titans Saturday to clinch second place in the league.

“There’s nothing wrong to finishing second to a team like that (Oak Hill),” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

“Our kids shook off last week and played hard. Notre Dame had a lot to play for. It was a playoff type of game for both of us, and I thought our kids responded well.’

Evan Herrell responded very well as he ran 13 times for 221 yards and two touchdowns and also returned a punt for another score to lead a Vikings’ ground game that rolled up 432 yards.

On the defensive side, the Vikings allowed the Titans only 18 passing yards and intercepted three passes — two by Cody Myers and one by D.J. Miller.

“Notre Dame has an excellent passing game and we were able to shut that down,” said Webb. “Our run defense was excellent. We made a couple of mistakes, but that happens during a game. A couple of hustle plays helped us out.”

One hustle play came in the second quarter when Ryan Bradford broke free on a 53-yard run. Herrell managed to strip the ball from Bradford and Hunter Boggs recovered for the Vikings in the end zone.

Jacob Patterson got the Vikings (8-1, 3-1) off to a good start with a kickoff return to the Titans’ 33. Myers scored on a 13-yard run and it was 6-0.

Notre Dame (4-5, 1-2) blocked a punt only to have the Vikings defense hold at the 22.

The Vikings then went on a drive capped by Patterson’s 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Myers threw to Bo Arthur for the conversion and a 14-0 lead.

Symmes Valley put together an 88-yard, 10-play drive in the third quarter that end on Herrell’s 25-yard run to make it 20-0.

After holding the Titans on the next series, Herrell returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown and Eli Ash kicked the extra point for a 27-0 lead with 1:34 left in the quarter.

The Vikings stopped two Titan drives in the fourth quarter on interceptions by Myers and Miller, the latter at the 3-yard line.

Three plays later Herrell bolted 92 yards for a touchdown with 1:40 to play and Ash’s kick set the final score.

The Vikings hosts South Gallia Friday on Senior Night looking for a win to try and land a first round home playoff game.

Symmes Valley 6 8 13 7 = 34

Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

SV — Cody Myers 13 run (kick failed) 8:23

Second Quarter

SV — Jacob Patterson 1 run (Bo Arthur pass from Cody Myers) 11:52

Third Quarter

SV — Evan Herrell 25 run (kick failed) 3:21

SV — Evan Herrell 72 punt return (Eli Ash kick) 1:34

Fourth Quarter

SV — Evan Herrell 92 run (Eli Ash kick) 1:48

SV ND

First downs 17 8

Rushes-yards 52-432 27-163

Passing yards 24 18

Total yards 456 181

Cmp-Att-Int 4-5-0 3-15-3

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Punts-average 4-18.0 4-32.8

Penalties-yards 11-104 4-30

Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Symmes Valley: Jacob Patterson 5-13, Cody Myers 12-58, Alec Herrell 6-40, Hunter Boggs 9-56, D.J. Miller 7-44, Evan Herrell 13-221; Notre Dame: Ryan Bradford 18-135, Jack Kayser 3-23, Michael Mader 4-minus 2.

PASSING-Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 4-5-0 24; Notre Dame: Michael Mader 3-15-3 18.

RECEIVING-Symmes Valley: D.J. Miller 1-20, Bo Arthur 1-4, Jacob Patterson 2-0; Notre Dame: Ryan Lewis 1-5, Kevin Lewis 1-8, Ryan Bradford 1-5.