By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WILLOW WOOD — It was the Symmes Valley Vikings final home game.

Or was it?

The Vikings blasted the South Gallia Rebels 53-12 Friday and not only won on Senior Night, but earned themselves another home game next week as they begin the Region 23 Division VI postseason playoffs.

“It was a nice win for our seniors, but it also got us another home game,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb. “It’s nice to get to play at home and not have to make a long bus trip for a change. This group has played well all year and they’ve earned it.”

The Vikings (9-1) are expected to host either Fairfield Christian or Malvern next Friday at 7:30 p.m. Last year the Vikings began the playoffs at Malvern.

Evan Herrell led the Vikings win as he carried just five times for 105 yards and scored three touchdowns. Jacob Patterson returned a punt for a score and D.J. Miller added 74 yards on six carries as the Vikings amassed 377 total yards.

The Vikings opened with a 72-yard, five-play drive that culminated on a 35-yard scoring pass from Cody Myers to C.J. Blankenship and it was 6-0.

Symmes Valley recovered a fumble and Evan Herrell ran 28 yards on the next play to make it 12-0.

After a South Gallia punt, the Vikings again needed just one play to score as Herrell broke loose on a 56-yard touchdown run. Eli Ash kicked the extra point and it was 19-0.

Jacob Patterson gave the Vikings yet another quick score as he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. Ash’s kick made it 26-0.

A quick three-play, 30-yard drive ended on a 3-yard run by Hunter Boggs as the Vikings opened up a 33-0 lead.

Herrell then capped a 52-yard, eight-play march with a 19-yard run and it was 40-0 at the break.

Miller bolted 20 yards for a touchdown to finish off a 65-yard, five-play drive with 2:07 left in the third quarter and the Vikings led 47-0.

South Gallia (4-6) finally got on the scoreboard after a fumble recovery at the Vikings’ 22. Three plays later Dalton Matney ran 15 yards for the touchdown.

The Vikings’ second unit then drove 53 yards in seven plays with Tyler Rowe running 10 yards for the score with 3:45 left.

The Rebels capped the scoring on a 49-yard run by Jacob White with 2:21 to play.

South Gallia 0 0 0 12 = 12

Symmes Valley 19 21 7 6 = 53

First Quarter

SV — C.J. Blankenship 35 pass from Cody Myers (kick failed) 9:02

SV — Evan Herrell 28 run (pass failed) 7:02

SV — Evan Herrell 56 run (Eli Ash kick) 3:01

Second Quarter

SV — Jacob Patterson 82 punt return (Eli Ash kick) 11:40

SV — Hunter Boggs 3 run (Eli Ash kick) 8:06

SV — Evan Herrell 19 run (Eli Ash kick) 2:29

Third Quarter

SV — D.J. Miller 20 run (Eli Ash kick) 2:07

Fourth Quarter

SG — Dalton Matney 15 run (run failed) 8:39

SV — Tyler Rowe 10 run (kick failed) 3:45

SG — Jacob White 49 run (run failed) 2:21

SG SV

First downs 8 19

Rushes-yards 34-125 34-316

Passing yards 0 61

Total yards 125 377

Cmp-Att-Int 0-4-0 2-3-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Punts-average 7-34.7 1-30.0

Penalties-yards 8-65 7-58

Individual Leaders

RUSHING-South Gallia: Dalton Matney 12-47, Jacob White 11-67; Symmes Valley: Evan Herrell 5-105, D.J. Miller 6-74, Cody Myers 2-37, Tyler Rowe 7-26, Hunter Boggs 3-17, Alec Herrell 1-17, Jacob Patterson 3-11, Kyle Vallance 1-8, Cory Thacker 1-6.

PASSING-South Gallia: Cory Haner 0-4-0; Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 2-3-0 61.

RECEIVING-South Gallia: None; Symmes Valley: C.J. Blankenship 1-35, D.J. Miller 1-26.