Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — The game of football is offense, defense and the kicking game.

In this case, the kicking game played a big role in the Northwest Mohawks 24-21 overtime win over the Symmes Valley Vikings on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

Dylan Amburgey’s 34-yard field goal in overtime was the difference in a game that the kicking played a major role.

“The kids played extremely hard. I’m very proud of the way they played. Northwest just made one more big play than we did,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.

Northwest (2-3, 1-0) went 50 yards in eight plays capped by Austin Jenkins’ 21-yard run to get on the scoreboard first. Amburgey’s kick made it 7-0.

The Vikings answered with a 63-yard, 14-play march the ended on a 5-yard run by Brandon Craft with 11:15 on the second quarter clock. The kick failed and it was 7-6.

The Mohawks then went 77 yards in 13 plays as Donnie Mankin ran 5 yards and it was 14-6 with 5:08 on the clock.

But Tanner Mays returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and Derrek Smith threw to Craft for the conversion and the game was tied with 4:52 left in the half.

Northwest then fumble the kickoff and the Vikings’ Travis Gates picked up the ball and returned it 30 yards for the touchdown.

Tyler Ferguson kicked the extra point and the Vikings led 21-14 with 4:40 left in the half.

The score remained that way until the Mohawks drove 74 yards in 17 plays and scored on a 1-yard keeper by Drew Scarberry with 5:03 left in regulation. Amburgey’s kick tied the game.

Symmes Valley (2-3, 0-1) got a good kickoff return and then went 40 yards in eight plays before turning the ball over on downs at the Northwest 20.

Northwest got the ball first in overtime and Amburgey kicked his field goal.

The Vikings were then held on a fourth-and-4 and the game ended.

Northwest had 329 total yards with 304 on the ground. Jenkins ran 16 times for 120 ayrds and Jacob Pickel had 109 yards on 21 carries.

The Vikings had 189 yards with 121 coming on the ground.

Payton Hayes ran 11 times for 43 yards and Mays six times for 34. Smith was 8 of 15 for 68 yards.

The game was the first in the Southern Ohio Conference I for Northwest, a long-time member of SOC II.

Northwest 7 7 0 7 3 = 24

Symmes Valley 0 21 0 0 0 = 21

First Quarter

NW —Austin Jenkins 21 run (Dylan Amburgey) 8:44

Second Quarter

SV — Brandon Craft 5 run (kick failed) 11:15

NW —Donnie Mankin 5 run (Dylan Amburgy kick) 5:08

SV — Tanner Mays 83 kickoff return (Brandon Craft pass from Derrek Smith) 4:52

SV —Travis Gates 30 fumble return (Tyler Ferguson kick) 4:40

Fourth Quarter

NW —Drew Scarberry 1 run (Dylan Amburgey kick) 5:03

Overtime

NW — Dylan Amburgey 34 field goal

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NW SV

First downs 22 14

Rushes-yards 59-304 40-121

Passing yards 25 68

Total yards 329 189

Cmp-Att-Int 2-4-1 8-15-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0

Penalties-yards 5-45 2-10

Punts-average 1-31.0 2-26.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Northwest: Jacob Pickel 21-109, Donnie Mankin 10-39, Austin Jenkins 16-120, Chris Silhavy 8-33; Symmes Valley: Payton Hayes 11-43, Brandon Craft 6-10, Derrek Smith 4-7, Collin Webb 12-22, Tanner Mays 6-34.

PASSING — Northwest: Drew Scarberry 2-3-1 25, Mike Lajoy 0-1; Symmes Valley: Derrek Smith 8-15-0 68.

RECEIVING — Northwest: Mike Lajoye 1-16, Jacob Pickel 1-9; Symmes Valley: Cameron Meadows 2-12, Collin Webb 2-19, Payton Hayes 1-12, Brandon Craft 2-13, Dillon McFann 1-12.