Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

WILLOW WOOD — It’s always good to start the season with a win, and it’s even better when the defense is the kickstarter.

The Symmes Valley Vikings’ defense limited the Paden City Wildcats to 128 total yards en route to a 32-0 shutout win on Friday.

The Vikings helped the Wildcats to 67 yards rushing and 61 passing along with just seven first downs. The defense intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble.

“I thought our defense played really well. We had a nice pass rush and nice coverage in the secondary. The linebackers did a real good job,” said Vikings’ head coach Rusty Webb. “Our offense and defense played really well.”

While the defense was shutting things down, the Vikings’ offense was opening things up.

Symmes Valley racked up 463 total years including 345 on the ground. Austin Waugh had 84 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns to lead a balanced ground game. He also returned an interception for a score..

The Vikings’ passing game added 118 yards as quarterback Jordan Lucas hit 5-of-8 attempts. Keifer Wilson caught seven passes for 92 yards including a pair of receptions that set up touchdown.

Symmes Valley scored on its opening drive of the game with Waugh going 4 yards for the score and a 6-0 lead at the 6:24 mark.

The lead went to 12-0 less than two minutes into the second quarter on a 9-yard run by Payton Hayes who finished the game with 45 yards on nine attempts.

A fumble recovery at the 30-yard line set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Lucas as he scored his first varsity touchdown. Jarod Sheppard ran for the conversion and it was 20-0 with 4:34 lead in the half.

Waugh padded the lead with a big defensive play as he picked off a pass and ran it back with yards for the score at the 1:47 mark and it was 20-0.

The final Vikings’ touchdown came on a 9-yard run by Waugh with 8:15 to play.

“It’s good to get that first win in the first game. We still have to get better. The schedule gets really tough,” said Webb.

Symmes Valley visits Buffalo, W.Va., next Friday.

Paden City 0 0 0 0 = 0

Sym. Valley 6 20 0 6 = 32

First Quarter

SV — Austin Waugh 4 run (kick failed) 6:24

Second Quarter

SV — Payton Hayes 9 run (run failed) 10:39

SV —(rec fumble 30) Jordan Lucas 4 run (Jarod Sheppard run) 4:36

SV — Austin Waugh 52 interception return (run failed) 1:47

Third Quarter

Fumble a drive. Exchange of punts

Fourth Quarter

SV – Austin Waugh 12 run (kick failed) 8:15

 

PC SV

First Downs 7 16

Rushes-Yards 16-67 42-345

Passing Yards 61 118

Total Yards 128 463

Cmp-Att-Int 11-27-2 5-8-0

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 4-20 4-35

Punts-Average 5-34.4 3-22.0

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING—Paden: Rander Amos 3-34, Aaron Heasley 9-33; SV: Austin Waugh 7-84, Payton Hayes 9-45, Levi Cade 7-43, Jordan Lucas 9-43, Jarod Sheppard 5-12, Ethan Roth 2-3, Derik Brace 13-3, Keifer Wison 2-2.

PASSING—Paden: Aaron Heasley 11-27-2 61; SV: Jordan Lucas 5-8-0 118.

RECEIVING—Paden: Wesley Smith 7-45: SV: Keifer Wilson 7-92, Ethan Roth 1-16, Jarod Sheppard 1-10.