Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontrib

 

WILLOW WOOD — Knowing what to do and then doing it are two different things. Just ask Symmes Valley Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

The Vikings were well aware of the task at hand Friday night as they hosted the Porsmouth Notre Dame Titans in a Southern Ohio Conference game. But the Vikings were unable to slow down the Titans’ running game in a 39-21 loss.

“We knew what we had to do, but we didn’t get it done,” said Webb.

“We just didn’t tackle well. We knew they had a good back. Actually, they had a couple of good backs. We were there, we just didn’t make the tackle.”

The Titans (7-2, 2-1) racked up 390 yards on the ground as Dakota Smith ran eight times for 241 yards and four touchdowns. Jack Kayser had 101 yards on 12 carries and a score.

Symmes Valley finished with 216 yards rushing and 54 passing. Brandon Craft ran eight times for 81 yards and a touchdown to lead the balanced ground game.

The Vikings fell to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the SOC, virtually ending any playoff hopes.

Notre Dame took a 7-0 lead on a 27-yard run by Kayser that capped a 56-yard, 5-play drive.

The Vikings tied the game on a 6-yard run by Tanner Mays with 6:38 left in the half. The scoring run ended an 83-yard, 17-play march.

But the Titans answered with a 22-yard halfback pass from Smith to Will Coleman and it was 13-7.

The lead went to 19-7 with just 55 seconds left in the half when Smith broke free on a fourth down play and ran 29 yards for the score.

Symmes Valley came back with an 88-yard, 12-play drive to get within 19-14. Tyler Rowe ran the final yard for the score and Tyler Ferguson added the conversion kick.

Notre Dame then scored when Smith went 58 yards on a third-and-9 play and Kayser’s conversion run put the lead at 27-14.

After a Vikings’ turnover, Smith ran 18 yards for a touchdown and it was 33-14 with 5:58 left.

Symmes Valley wouldn’t quit and marched 69 yards in just four plays. Craft ran 20 yards for the score and it was 33-21 with 4:27 left.

But the Titans recovered the onside kickoff and two plays later Smith rambled 44 yards with 3:29 left to seal the outcome.

Notre Dame 7 12 0 20 = 39

Sym. Valley 0 7 0 14 = 21

First Quarter

ND — Jack Kayser 27 run (Will Coleman kick) 9:24 5 plays 56 yards

Second Quarter

SV — Tanner Mays 6 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 6:38 17 plays 83 yards

ND — Will Coleman 22 pass from Dakota Smith (kick failed) 6:60

ND — Dakota Smith 29 run (run failed) 0:55

Fourth Quarter

SV — Tyler Rowe 1 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 10:10 12 plays 88 yards

ND — Dakota Smith 58 run (Jack Kayser run) 8:20

ND — Dakota Smith 18 run (run failed) 5:58 3 plays 47 yards

SV — Brandon Craft 20 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 4:27

ND — Dakota Smith 44 run (kick failed) 3:29 2 plays 50 yards after onside kickoff

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PND SV

First downs 20 18

Rushes-yards 42-390 49-216

Yards passing 75 54

Total yards 465 270

Cmp-Att-Int 8-12-0 3-6-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 5-35 3-15

Punts-average 1-31,0 3-32.7

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Notre Dame: Dakota Smith 8-241, Jack Kayser 12-101; Symmes Valley: Tyler Rowe 10-45, Payton Hayes 13-minus 5, Tanner Mays 9-45, Collin Webb 8-35, Brandon Craft 8-81, Dustin Holbrook 1-5.

PASSING—Notre Dame: Jonathan Major 7-11-0 53, Dakota Smith 1-1-0 22 TD; Symmes Valley: Payton Hayes 3-6-0 54.

RECEIVING—Notre Dame: Will Coleman 4-63, Will Haney 1-12, Dakota Smith 2-4, Michael Collins 1-minus 4; Symmes Valley: Tanner Mays 1-18, Brandon Craft 1-16, Cameron Meadows 1-20.