Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — Ugly wins count the same as pretty ones.
While the offense struggled, the Symmes Valley Vikings used a strong defensive effort to shut out the Green Bobcats 7-0 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
Playing without starting quarterback Jack Leith, the Vikings had 149 total yards of offense with 141 coming on the ground.
But the defense limited the Bobcats to 190 yards including 119 rushing.
“The offense got it done when it needed to. We had a lot of things go against us, but the kids just kept fighting. This wasn’t a pretty win, but our kids dug deep when they had to,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.
The game was scoreless until the second half.
Symmes Valley (5-1, 1-0) took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and drove for the game’s only score.
The 55-yard drive ate up eight and a half minutes and was capped by Josh Ferguson’s 3-yard run.
Green (3-3, 0-1) had first and goal at the 9-yard line. But the Vikings were able to get to the quarterback and a dead ball 15-yard penalty backed the offense up and on fourth down Luke Leith had an interception with time running out that sealed the win.
“The defense stepped up really well. We gave them three first downs on penalties,” said Webb.
Kayson Adkins, Caleb Mullins, Tobey Smathers, Dwayne Eplin, Eli Patterson, Christian Gilbert and Gavan Yates gave us a good pass rush all night.”
Ethan Patterson ran nine times for 72 yards to lead the Vikings’ ground game.
Green quarterback Trevor Darnell
The Vikings visit Eastern next Friday.
Green 0 0 0 0 = 0
Sym. Valley 0 0 7 0 = 7
Third Quarter
SV — Josh Ferguson 3 run (Gavan Yates kick)
——
Gr SV
First downs 15 8
Rushes-yards 117 36-141
Passing yards 73 8
Total yards 190 149
Cmp-Att-Int 5-12-1 1-1-0
Fumbles-lost 5-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 6-35 8-85
Punts-average 1-16.0 3-27.6
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Green: Trevor Darnell 13-25, Alec Smith 10-65, Lonnie 9-36; Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 11-29, Caleb Mullins 3-4, Luke Leith 4-5, Levi Niece 1-3, Ethan Patterson 9-72, Nick Strow 8-28.
PASSING — Green: Trevor Darnell 5-12-1 73; Symmes Valley: Luke Leith 1-1-0 8.
RECEIVING — Green: Huffman 1-56, Lonnie Smith 2-12; Symmes Valley: Caleb Mullins 1-8.