By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

WILLOW WOOD — There are a lot of reasons why the Symmes Valley Vikings cruised past the Portsmouth Notre Titans Friday night.

About 22 reasons to be exact.

The Vikings turned in a strong all-around performance by the offense and defense in a 61-13 win that gave them the Southern Ohio Conference football championship.

“I wish I could point out one thing, but we played well in all facets of the game. Our kids played extremely well,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

The offense amassed 533 rushing yards led by Alec Herrell who ran 10 times for 115 yards. He also scored four touchdowns, one through the air.

D.J. Miller had 80 yards on 12 carries and two scores, Tyler Rowe ran four times for 77 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Cody Myers rushed 10 times for 77y ads and also hit 3 of 4 passes for 44 yards and a score.

The defense also held the Titans offense in check until late in the game when the backups took over.

The SOC championship was the first for the Vikings (8-1, 4-0) since the 2004 season.

“We played four quarters. We got the SOC championship and I’m proud of all these players,” said Webb.

The Vikings went 50 yards in seven plays to get on the scoreboard as Herrell ran the final 5 yards. Eli Ash kicked the extra point.

Notre Dame (7-2, 2-1) tied the game on a 1-yard scoring run by Jack Kayser to cap a 52-yard, 9-play drives et up by Brendan Hoover’s fumble recovery.

But Myers returned the kickoff 57 yards to the Titans’ 35 and four plays later Herrell scored from 15 yards out and it was 13-7.

Symmes Valley recovered a fumble at the 21 and Herrell scored from 5 yards out just three plays later and it was 19-7.

An interception by Miller at the 1-yard line stopped a Titans’ scoring threat and the Vikings went the 99 yards for a touchdown in only three plays.

A 64-yard run by Rowe was the key play and then Myers hit Herrell on a 33-yard pass play to open up a 26-7 cushion.

Symmes Valley scored three touchdowns in the third quarter — one set up by a fumble and the other on an interception — to open up a 47-7 lead.

Miller had scoring runs of 14 and 12 yards sandwiched around a 1-yard run by Rowe.

The Vikings’ second team scored on a 48-yard run by Dustin Holbrook and it was 53-7.

Notre Dame got a 1-yard scoring run by John Major with three minutes to play, but the Vikings’ Tanner Mays broke loose on a 55-yard touchdown run less than a minute later and Josh Dial’s conversion run completed the scoring.

The Vikings play at South Gallia (8-1) next week in a big computer playoff points game.

Prts. Notre Dame 0 7 0 6 = 13

Symmes Valley 7 19 21 14 = 61

First Quarter

SV – Alec Herrell 5 run (Eli Ash kick) 2:37

Second Quarter

ND – Jack Kayser 1 run (Brian Delebar kick) 10:27

SV – Alec Herrell 15 run (kick failed) 9:14

SV – Alec Herrell 5 run (run failed) 7:49

SV – Alec Herrell 33 pass from Cody Myers (Eli Ash kick) 2:50

Third Quarter

SV – D.J. Miller 14 run (Eli Ash kick) 10:23

SV – Tyler Rowe 1 run (Eli Ash kick) 8:51

SV – D.J. Miller 12 run (Eli Ash kick) 1:00

Fourth Quarter

SV – Dustin Holbrook 48 run (run failed) 10:47

ND – John Major 1 run (kick failed) 3:00

SV – Tanner Mays 55 run (Josh Dial run) 2:25

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ND SV

First downs 14 23

Rushes-yards 40-156 55-533

Passing yards 87 44

Total yards 243 577

Cmp-Att-Int 8-23-3 3-4-1

Fumbles-lost 2-2 2-0

Penalties-yards 6-41 3-16

Punts-average 2-31.5 2-17.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Prts. Notre Dame: Jack Kayser 12-36, Brendan Hoover 11-71, C.J. Smith 7-49. Symmes Valley: Alec Herrell 10-115, D.J. Miller 12-80, Cody Myers 10-77, Austin Owens 4-31, Jordan Fulford 4-26, Tyler Rowe 4-77, Tanner Mays 3-59, Corey Thacker 1-5, Dustin Holbrook 3-53, Michael Cremeans 2-2, Josh Dial 2-8.

PASSING–Prts. Notre Dame: Matt Mader 7-21-3 77, Kevin Lewis 1-1-0 10, John Major 0-1-0. Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 3-4-1 44.

RECEIVING–Prts. Notre Dame: Kevin Lewis 2-36, Brendan Hoover 2-28, Jack Kayser 2-2, Will Haney 2-21. Symmes Valley: Alec Herrell 1-33, Jordan Fulford 1-5, D.J. Miller 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: None.