Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SCIOTOVILLE — The weather got ugly. The Symmes Valley Vikings’ defense was even uglier to the Sciotoville East Tartans.

The Vikings’ defense was the key as they blanked East 16-0 Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference I game.

The Tartans have scored more than 60 points three times this season. However, the Vikings’ defense shut down the East attack by limiting them to just 38 net yards — all on the ground.

East’s leading rusher Akia Brown was stopped cold. He finished with 11 carries for minus 5 yards.

“The uglier the weather, the better our kids played,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb. “Our kids played well. I can’t say enough about them. Our defensive front played well.”

Blake Bowen, Jared Sheppard, Curtis Lybrand, Curtis Gates, Cameron Meadows and linebackers Derrek Smith, Tyler Dement, Jonah Graybeal and Brandon Craft held the high-powered East offense in check.

“They did an excellent job. East had the size but our defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage. And our offensive line controlled the line scrimmage, too,” said Webb.

The Vikings (4-3, 2-1) scored in the first quarter on a 70-yard punt return by Collin Webb. Tyler Ferguson’s kick made it 7-0 at the 4:26 mark.

Symmes Valley had a drive stall deep in East territory that led to a punt and gave the Vikings the ball on a short field.

Webb had three punts on the night for a 25.3 average but two of his punts rolled dead inside the 20-yard line.

The Vikings went 38 yards in seven plays capped by Brandon Craft’s 5-yard run with 43 seconds left in the third quarter and it was 14-0.

Symmes Valley had another drive deep in East territory but fumbled the ball away at the 3-yard line.

The play set up a safety as the Vikings’ defense tackled East quarterback Ethan Gifford in the end zone with 10 seconds to play in the game.

Symmes Valley had 190 total yards with 164 coming on the ground. Tanner Mays ran 10 times for 73 yards.

East is 3-4 and 0-2.

Symmes Valley 7 0 7 2 = 16

Sciotoville East 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

SV — Collin Webb 70 punt return (Tyler Ferguson kick) 4:26

Third Quarter

SV — Brandon Craft 5 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 0:43 7-38

Fourth Quarter

SV — Safety (Ethan Gifford tackled in end zone) 0:10

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SV SE

First downs 10 8

Rushes-yards 35-164 41-38

Passing yards 26 0

Total yards 190 38

Cmp-Att-Int 2-4-0 0-5-1

Fumbles-lost 3-3 1-1

Penalties-yards 9-79 6-40

Punts-average 3-25.3 5-30.2

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING —Symmes Valley: Collin Webb 5-19, Tanner Mays 10-73, Brandon Craft 4-23, Payton Hayes 3-4, Derrek Smith 13-45; Sciotoville East: Akia Brown 11-minus 5, Michael Stiltner 9-25, Richard Barkley 12-24, Tyler Gifford 9-minus 16.

PASSING — Symmes Valley: Derrek Smith 2-4-0 26; Sciotoville East: Ethan Gifford 0-5-1.

RECEIVING — Symmes Valley: Tanner Mays 1-11, Brandon Craft 1-15; Sciotoville East: None.