PORTSMOUTH – For three quarters, the Symmes Valley Vikings were looking the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans in the eye.

Tuesday, October 17, 2000

PORTSMOUTH – For three quarters, the Symmes Valley Vikings were looking the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans in the eye.

But then the Vikings blinked and the Titans won this staring contest.

Symmes Valley was tied 7-7 after three quarters with the Titans, ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press Division VI poll. Notre Dame then took over in the fourth quarter and posted a 28-7 Southern Ohio Conference win.

"Any time you can take a young team and go toe-to-toe with the No. 5 team in the state for three quarters, that says something about your kids," Vikings coach Herb Conley said.

"For three quarters we were right there, then we made some mistakes. We’re just a young team."

Notre Dame, 8-0 and 4-0 in the SOC, went ahead with 9:12 left in the first half on a 4-yard run by Andrew Graf and Joe Webb’s conversion kick.

But the Vikings came right back a couple of minutes later to tie the game when Michael Roth ran 8 yards for a touchdown and Adam Corn kicked the point after.

Notre Dame broke the tie on a 2-yard run by Graf with 11:07 to play as the lead went to 14-7.

Symmes Valley, 3-5 and 1-3, then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Titans recovered at the 21-yard line. Two plays later Scott Chatfield scooted 10 yards for the touchdown and it was 21-7.

Five minutes later, the Titans put up an insurance score on Graf’s third touchdown of the game, a 10-yard run.

"The defense played well, but we need to play third down better. Notre Dame is veteran team and they made big plays. They have 15 seniors and most of those kids are 3-year starters. Their experience showed," Conley said.

Notre Dame finished with 306 total yards including 199 on the ground. Graf ran 22 times for 150 yards and quarterback Nick Rutman hit 4-of-13 passes for 107 yards and an interception.

Symmes Valley had 198 total yards with 167 coming on the ground. Brad Carpenter ran 20 times for 64 yards and also had the Vikings lone reception for 31 yards.

"Our offensive line blocked better and so did the backs, but we still need to be more consistent," Conley said. "The kids are still working. They haven’t quit."

The Vikings play at Portsmouth East Friday in an SOC game. The final game against Gilbert, W.Va., will begin at 7 p.m.