By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESHIRE — The Symmes Valley Vikings got their work done early.

With the rain continuing to make the field worse as the game progressed, the Vikings got their scoring done early as they finished off the regular season with a 21-8 win over the South Gallia Rebels on Friday.

Symmes Valley scored all its points in the first half and played steady in the second half to finish the regular season 9-1.

“We wanted to take advantage of the good field while we had it and our kids did a good job of it. The field got worse as the game went on, so it was important to get a good start,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

Symmes Valley held the Rebels on downs to start the game and then drove 77 yards in nine plays to score. Tyler Rowe raced 15 yards for the score and it was 6-0.

The Vikings forced a punt on the Rebels’ next and Jacob Graybeal blocked the kick. Tanner Mays recovered the kick in the end zone for the touchdown. D.J. Miller ran for the conversion and it was 14-0 with 47 seconds on the clock.

Symmes Valley put together a 74-yard, five-play drive that ended when Miller bolted 50 yards for the touchdown. Eli Ash kicked the conversion and it was 21-0 with 4:13 left in the half.

South Gallia (7-3) put together a 60-yard, 12-play drive aided by two penalties to score. Jacob White capped the drive with an 8-yard run and he added the conversion to make it 21-8 with 1:46 left in the quarter.

“South Gallia did a good job handling the conditions in the second half, but our guys rose to the occasion when they needed to,” said Webb.

Symmes Valley had 232 yards on the ground with Miller picking up 87 yards on eight carries. Cody Myers ran 14 times for 58 yards and Alec Herrell added 54 yards on 10 attempts.

White had 71 yards on 17 carries for the Rebels.

The Vikings are expected to finish first in the Region 23 Division VI computer playoffs and will play host to a first round game on Saturday, probably against Trimble.

Symmes Valley 14 7 0 0 = 21

South Gallia 0 0 8 0 = 8

First Quarter

SV – Tyler Rowe 15 run (run failed) 2:28 (SG drove start game 11-38 SV held on downs0 9-77

SV – Tanner Mays recover blocked punt in end zone (D.J. Miller run) 0:47 (SG 3 and out Jacob Graybeal block

Second Quarter

SV – D.J. Miller 50 run (Eli Ash kick) 4:13 (SG 12-46 downs) 5-74

Third Quarter

SG – Jacob White 8 run (White run) 1:46 (SV 7-30 punt) 12-60 aided 2 penalties

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SV SG

First downs 13 14

Rushes-yards 41-232 47-173

Passing yards 15 25

Total yards 247 197

Cmp-Att-Int 1-2-0 4-12-0

Fumbles-lost 6-1 4-0

Penalties-yards 5-47 8-43

Punts-average 1-11.0 2-18.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Symmes Valley: D.J. Miller 8-87, Cody Myers 14-58, Alec Herrell 10-54, Jordan Fulford 4-11, Tyler Rowe 3-15, Austin Owens 2-7. South Gallia: Jacob White 17-71, Austin Phillips 8-45, Cory Haner 11-11, Ethan Spurlock 9-37, John Johnson 2-9.

PASSING–Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 1-2-0 15. South Gallia: Cory Haner 4-12-0 25.

RECEIVING–Symmes Valley: Austin Baldwin 1-15. South Gallia: Josh Cooper 2-8, Levi Ellis 1-1, Danny Matney 1-16.