Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

MANCHESTER — The Symmes Valley Vikings proved they have more than just one weapon.
When Manchester decided to slow down Layken Gothard, his Vikings’ teammates Keifer Wilson and Derik Brace stepped in.
Brace ran seven times for 71 yards and three touchdowns while Wilson carried nine times for 69 yards and a score to lead the Vikings to a 49-14 win over the Greyhounds on Friday.
Gothard still had a solid game with 61 yards on 11 carries and two three touchdowns. He also returned three punts for 107 yards and a touchdown.
“Layken Gothard has had a few really good games in a row and they were geared for him. Keifer Wilson did a tremendous job of running our offense. He ran our two-minute offense great,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb. “Derik Brace and Wilson had tremendous games.”
“Also, give credit to our offensive line for getting the job done and our defense played very well. They are strictly an option offense so you have to play assignment football and that’s tough for a high school kid to do.”
Symmes Valley (6-2) racked up 333 total yards including 276 on the ground.
Manchester (3-5) was held to 165 total yards with 157 on the ground. Quarterback Shawn Gould had 116 yards on 18 carries and Nick Woolard 38 on nine tries.
The Vikings held the Greyhounds on the first series of the game and got the ball at the Manchester 30-yard line following a shanked punt.
Wilson scored on the next play and it was 7-0.
Manchester answered as Gould kept for a 60-yard scoring run. Brace blocked the conversion kick and it was 7-6.
The Vikings then went 62 yards in seven plays capped by Gothard’s 6-yard run and it was 14-6.
The Greyhounds were forced to punt again and Gothard ran the kick to the Manchester 36. Brace scored seven plays later on a 3-yard run and it was 21-6 early in the second quarter.
Forcing yet another punt, this time Gothard returned the kick 62 yards for a touchdown and it was 28-6.
The Greyhounds came back to go 63 yards in nine plays capped by Gould’s 8-yard pass to Marcus Neeley on fourth down and it was 28-14 as Gould ran for the conversion.
But the Vikings went to their two-minute offense and Wilson was 3-of-3 passing including a 27-yard toss to Austin Mannon to the 2-yard line where Brace scored and it was 35-14 just before the half.
The drive covered 57 yards in 10 plays.
Enjoying the length and time of the drive, the Vikings went 57 yards in 10 plays again to start the second half with Gothard scoring on a 19-yard run and it was 42-14.
The Greyhounds shanked another punt and the Vikings got the ball at the Manchester 18. Brace scored from there and it was 49-14.
Manchester ran kickoff back to the 3-yard line but the defense held as the Greyhounds were pushed back 22 yards.
The Vikings reserves took over at the 25 with seven and a half minutes to play and ran out the clock.
“We were very pleased with how our young kids came in and played,” said Webb.
Next Friday, Symmes Valley hosts Sciotoville East.
Sym. Valley       14    21    14    0    =    49
Manchester    6    8    0    0    =    14
First Quarter
SV – Keifer Wilson 30 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
Man – Shawn Gould 60 run (kick blocked) Derik Brace
SV – Layken Gothard 6 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
Second Quarter
SV – Derik Brace 3 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
SV – Layken Gothard 62 punt return (Keifer Wilson kick)
Man –Marcus Neeley 8 pass from Shawn Gould (Shawn Gould run)
SV – Derik Brace 2 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
Third Quarter
SV –Layken Gothard 19 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
SV – Derik Brace 18 run (Keifer Wilson kick)
——
SV    Man
First downs    19    7
Rushes-yards    45-276    31-157
Passing yards    57    8
Total yards    333    165
Cmp-Att-Int    4-4-0    1-5-0
Fumbles-lost    1-0    0-0
Penalties-yards    6-70    7-55
Punts-average    0-00.0    3-25.7
——
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Symmes Valley: Austin Waugh 3-22, Derik Brace 7-71, Derek Crum 4-24, Justin White 2-1, Jack Leith 2-3, Gage Smith 1-4, Keifer Wilson 9-69, Layken Gothard 11-61, T.J. Wong 6-21; Manchester: Shawn Gould 18-116, Nick Woolard 9-38.
PASSING — Symmes Valley: Keifer Wilson 4-4-0 57; Manchester: Shawn Gould 1-5-0 8.
RECEIVING — Symmes Valley: Austin Waugh 1-3, Austin Mannon 3-54; Manchester: Marcus Neeley 1-8.