Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — What looked like a battle of running games turned into a runaway.

Leading just 7-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Symmes Valley Vikings turned up their running game and pulled away from the Green Bobcats 41-6 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference Division I game.

“They ran on us early, but we were able to correct that,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb. “I thought our kids did an excellent job with our adjustments.”

Symmes Valley racked up 434 yards on the ground with Alec Herrell and D.J. Miller each going over 100 yards for the game. Herrell ran eight times for 139 yards and Miller had 107 yards on the same number of carries.

The Vikings are now 5-1 on the season and 1-0 in the SOC. Green is 3-3 and 0-1.

“I thought our kids did an outstanding job of being focused. Green always comes to play against us and we knew we had to be ready,” said Webb.

The Vikings went 65 yards in six plays in the first quarter to take the lead. Tanner Mays ran 6 yards for the score and Tyler Ferguson kicked the point after.

Green had a drive stall on downs at the Vikings’ 21-yard line and then Symmes Valley went the length of the field in six plays with Austin Owens scoring from 5 yards out.

Miller came up with an interception on the next series at the 31. Six plays later he scored on a 1-yard run. Herrell ran for the conversion and it was 21-0.

Tyler Rowe recovered a Green fumble at the Vikings’ 47 and Herrell went the distance for a touchdown on the next play and a 28-0 lead at the half.

The Vikings took the second half kickoff and marched 58 yards on just three plays capped by Rowe’s 27-yard touchdown scamper.

The Bobcats had another drive that stalled at the Vikings’ 38. This time Symmes Valley put together a time-consuming 11-play drive that ended on a 22-yard run by Tanner Mays.

Green got on the scoreboard with seven minutes left when Clay Applegate hit Ryan Gaffney with a 59-yard scoring pass to cap a three-play, 59-yard drive.

Applegate finished the game 5 of 13 passing for 87 yards.

Symmes Valley 7 21 7 6 = 41

Green 0 0 0 6 = 6

First Quarter

SV —Tanner Mays 6 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 6:32

Second Quarter

SV —Austin Owens 5 run (kick failed) 8:41

SV — D.J. Miller 1 run (Alec Herrell run) 5:11 6-31

SV —Alec Herrell 53 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 3:55

Third Quarter

SV —Tyler Rowe 27 run (Tyler Ferguson kick) 11:05

Fourth Quarter

SV — Tanner Mays 22 run (kick failed) 8:01

Gr — Ryan Gaffney (pass failed) 7:00

Team Statistics

SV Gr

First downs 18 7

Rushes-yards 42-434 35-38

Passing yards 22 87

Total yards 456 125

Cmp-Att-Int 1-3-0 5-13-2

Fumbles-lost 4-2 1-1

Penalties-yards 7-56 2-9

Punts-average 1-38.0 4-31.0

Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Symmes Valley: Tyler Rowe 3-49, Alec Herrell 8-139, Dustin Holbrook 6-46, D.J. Miller 8-107, Tanner Mays 7-47, Austin Owens 5-39, Trent Thompson 2-4, Quinton Bare 1-0, Cameron Meadows 2-3; Green: Robbie Applegate 16-32.

PASSING—Symmes Valley: Tyler Rowe 1-3-0 22; Green: Clay Applegate 5-13-2 87.

RECEIVING—Symmes Valley: Austin Owens 1-22; Green: Robbie Applegate 3-3, Levi Mollett 1-25, Ryan Gaffney 1-59.