By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

OAK HILL — The Symmes Valley Vikings played like they were on a rollercoaster at King’s Island. And in this case, their ground game was a beast.

The Vikings (7-1, 3-0) amassed 359 yards on the ground as they beat the Oak Hill Oaks 32-12 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.

Despite the win, the Vikings gave up 359 total yards to the Oaks but held them to two touchdowns thanks to key defensive plays.

“We played very well in the first half. We kind of hit a lull in the third quarter, but our kids were able to overcome that and we played well in the fourth quarter,” said Symmes Valley coach Rusty Webb.

“We’re starting to get more consistent which is what we want to do at this time of the year.”

Alec Herrell led the ground game with 134 yards on just nine carries. D.J. Miller had 73 yards on 12 attempts and Cody Myers added 67 yards on 15 tries and three scores.

Quarterback Drew Haislop was 15 of 28 for 208 yards to lead the Oaks who also had 151 yards rushing.

Symmes Valley forced a fumble after the opening kickoff and recovered at the 32. Six plays later Myers ran 9 yards for the touchdown and Eli Ash’s kick put the Vikings up 7-0.

Oak Hill started a drive after the ensuing kickoff but fumbled at the Vikings’ 33. This time Symmes Valley used 10 plays to score with Myers doing the honors again from 5 yards out and it was 14-0.

After an exchange of punts, the Vikings defense used a goal-line stand at the 5-yard line to halt an Oak Hill scoring threat.

The Vikings then covered the 95 yards in eight plays keyed by Herrell’s 64-yard run. Jordan Fulford ran 5 yards for the touchdown and it was 20-0 with 1:27 left in the half.

Oak Hill (1-7, 1-2) came out in the second half and went 71 yards in 12 plays. Drew Haislop hit Ryan Gaines with an 11-yard scoring pass on a fourth-and-goal and it was 20-8 with 4:33 left in the third quarter. Wes Harden ran for the conversion.

The Vikings defense used a stop on fourth down to get the ball back at the Oaks’ 41. For plays later Myers ran 2 yards for the touchdown and it was 26-8 with 9:37 to play.

Grant Foster came up with the next big defensive play for the Vikings when he picked off a pass and ran it back to the 47. Two plays later Tyler Rowe bolted 47 yards for a touchdown and it was 32-8 with 7:37 left.

Oak Hill went 67 yards for the final score as Haislop hit Daniel Woods with a screen pass that turned into a 42-yard touchdown play. The drive was kept alive when the Oaks had a punt blocked but picked it up and ran for a first down.

Symmes Valley hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame next Friday in a battle for first place in the SOC. Both teams come into the game unbeaten in the conference.

Symmes Valley 14 6 0 12 = 32

Oak Hill 0 0 8 6 = 12

First Quarter

SV – Cody Myers 9 run (Eli Ash kick) 8:44

SV – Cody Myers 5 run (Eli Ash kick) 4:14

Second Quarter

SV – Jordan Fulford 5 run (kick failed) 1:27

Third Quarter

OH – Ryan Gaines 11 pass from Drew Haislop (Wes Harden run) 4:33

Fourth Quarter

SV – Cody Myers 2 run (pass failed) 9:37

SV – Tyler Rowe 47 run (kick blocked) 7:37

OH – Daniel Woods 42 pass from Drew Haislop (run failed) 5:37

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SV OH

First downs 17 19

Rushes-yards 45-359 41-151

Passing yards 7 208

Total yards 366 359

Cmp-Att-Int 1-4-0 15-28-1

Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 5-46 4-8

Punts-average 4-36.2 2-21.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Symmes Valley: Alec Herrell 9-134, D.J. Miller 12-73, Cody Myers 15-67, Austin Owens 4-28, Jordan Fulford 3-8, Tyler Rowe 2-49; Oak Hill: Wes Harden 26-136, Devin Davis 6-21, Drew Haislop 5-minus 19, Daniel Woods 1-minus 2, Colton Cox 3-15.

PASSING–Symmes Valley: Cody Myers 1-4-0 7; Oak Hill: Drew Haislop 15-28-1 208.

RECEIVING–Symmes Valley: Austin Baldwin 1-7; Oak Hill: Daniel Woods 7-89, Devin Davis 1-minus 4, Ryan Gaines 4-47, Justin Dickens 1-15, Colton Cox 1-23, Jonathan Hairston 1-38.