By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

RACINE — The Symmes Valley Vikings’ offense was off-and-on. Fortunately, it was on more than it was off.

The Vikings overcame 197 yards in penalties to rack up 370 total yards in a 34-21 win over the Southern Tornadoes Friday night.

“Our offensive line played well in spurts. We need to be more focused throughout the game. We did some things right, but we still have things to improve,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

D.J. Miller led the ground game with 127 yards on 14 carries and he scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Cody Myers added 90 yards rushing and he was 4 of 6 passing for 60 yards and a score.

The defense limited the Tornadoes’ first team to a net yardage total of minus 38 and just half of their eight pass completions.

“I thought our defense played really well,” said Webb.

A bad snap on a punt gave the Vikings the ball at the Southern 23 to start the game. Myers then hooked up with Austin Baldwin on a 23-yard scoring strike and Eli Ash kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The defense held on the next series and the Vikings then marched 65 yards in 12 plays capped by Tyler Rowe’s 5-yard scoring run and it was 14-0.

Following an exchange of punts, Southern fumbled at the 25 and the Vikings used five plays to score as Miller went the final yard to make it 20-0 with 4:43 left in the half.

Southern used four first downs to drive to the Vikings 34 where Danny Ranthum hit Ryan Taylor on a touchdown pass. Ranthum’s conversion kick made it 20-7 with two minutes left in the half.

But the Vikings answered by going 56 yards in eight plays as Rowe ran 4 yards for his second touchdown of the game with just 25 seconds on the clock and it was 27-7.

“Our kids did very well with our two-minute offense,” said Webb.

The third quarter was filled with penalties and then the Vikings scored quickly as Miller bolted 51 yards on second down to push the lead to 34-7 with 7:04 to play.

Southern went 59 yards in 10 plays against the Vikings’ second unit as Ranthum hit Taylor for a touchdown on a fourth-and-one play with 3:14 to go.

Ranthum scored the final touchdown with 27 seconds left when he scrambled out of the pocket and ran 61 yards for the score.

The Vikings play at River Valley next Friday at the old Cheshire High School stadium.

Symmes Valley 14 13 0 7 = 34

Southern 0 7 0 14 = 21

First Quarter

SV — Austin Baldwin 23 pass from Cody Myers (Eli Ash kick) 9:36

SV — Tyler Rowe 5 run (Eli Ash kick) 1:31

Second Quarter

SV — D.J. Miller 1 run (kick blocked) 4:43

RS — Ryan Taylor 34 pass from Danny Ranthum (Ranthum kick) 2:00

SV — Tyler Rowe 4 run (Eli Ash kick) 0:25

Fourth Quarter

SV — D.J. Miller 51 run (Eli Ash kick) 7:04

RS — Ryan Taylor 1 pass from Danny Ranthum (Ranthum kick) 3:14

RS — Danny Ranthum 61 run (Ranthum kick) 0:27

SV RS

First downs 18 10

Rushes-yards 48-310 28-88

Passing yards 60 118

Total yards 370 206

Cmp-Att-Int 4-6-0 8-21-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Punts-average 4-31.8 4-30.2

Penalties-yards 11-197 3-25

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Symmes Valley: D.J. Miller 14-127, Alec Herrell 10-64, Cody Myers 14-90, Austin Owens 2-3, Tyler Rowe 5-21, Michael Cremeans 1-4, Quinton Bare 1-1, Kyle Vallance 1-1; Southern: Danny Ranthum 11-47, Tyler Barton 16-39, Trenton Deem 1-2.

PASSING—Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 4-6-0 60; Southern: Danny Ranthum 8-21-0 118.

RECEVING—Symmes Valley: Alec Herrell 1-12, Austin Baldwin 1-23, Austin Owens 1-15, Scott Dial 1-10; Southern: Ryan Taylor 6-101, Tristan Wolfe 1-13, Paul Ranthum 1-4.