Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FRANKLIN FURNACE — The Symmes Valley Vikings could almost taste the upset.
Almost.
The Vikings led the unbeaten Green Bobcats until the final minute of the game before losing the Southern Ohio Conference game 22-15 on Friday.
“The kids played hard. We went into a hostile environment against an undefeated team and gave it our best effort. I’m proud of our kids. You never like a loss, but we can learn and grow from this and we can get better,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.
Green (5-0, 2-0) converted a third-and-8 and a fourth-and-7 to keep the winning drive alive. The Bobcats Ricky Nash then scored on a fourth-and-1 with 58 seconds left to take a 20-15 lead. Alec Smith ran for the conversion.
Green took a 6-0 lead on a 3-yard run by Trevor Darnell on the opening drive of the game.
But Symmes Valley (2-3, 0-2) took the kickoff and marched into Green territory where Derek Crum ran 36 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.
Gavin Yates kicked the conversion and the Vikings led 7-6.
After a series of punts, the Vikings recovered a fumble and on the second to last play of the half scored as quarterback Keifer Wilson ran the final yard for the touchdown. Wilson also ran for the conversion and a 15-6 halftime lead.
The Vikings held the Bobcats deep in their territory to start the second half, but Green came up with a safety and trailed 15-8.
The Bobcats then took the free kick and went in to score as Mackie Kingery ran 10 yards. The conversion run failed and the Vikings were clinging to a 15-14 lead.
That set up the Bobcats’ game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
Symmes Valley had 194 total yards with 177 coming on the ground. Crum ran eight times for 76 yards and Wilson carried 11 times for 66 yards.
Green ran 54 times for 246 yards as Smith had 15 tries for 89 yards, Nash 62 yards on 17 attempts and Kingery 47 yards on 10 attempts.
Next Friday, the Vikings host Beaver Eastern while Green is at Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday.
Sym. Valley 0 15 0 0 = 15
Green 6 0 8 8 = 22
First Quarter
Gr — Trevor Darnell 3 run (run failed)
Second Quarter
SV —Derek Crum 36 run (Gavin Yates kick)
SV —Keifer Wilson 1 run (Wilson run)
Third Quarter
Gr —Safety (Vikings tackled in end zone)
Gr — Mackie Kingery 10 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
Gr — Ricky Nash 1 run (Alec Smith run) 0:58
—————
SV Gr
First downs 9 16
Rushes-yards 31-177 54-246
Passing yards 17 2
Total yards 194 248
Cmp-Att-Int 1-6-1 1-3-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 6-36 3-37
Punts-average 3-27.7 NA
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Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 10-30, Derek Crum 8-76, Keifer Wilson 11-66, James Newcomb 1-3, Nick Strow 1-2; Green: Alec Smith 15-89, Mackie Kingery 10-47, Ricky Nash 17-62.
PASSING — Symmes Valley: Keifer Wilson 1-6-1 17; Green: Trevor Darnell 1-3-0.
RECEIVING — Symmes Valley: Luke Leith 1-17; Green: Lonnie Smith 1-2.