Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The young Symmes Valley Vikings learned what the word clutch means.
The Vikings had a clutch scoring drive and then came up with two clutch defensive plays as they held on to beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 15-14 on Friday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.
Symmes Valley (3-4, 1-3) had 187 total yards with 141 coming on the ground. Notre Dame (1-6, 1-3) had 307 total yards — all on the ground.
“We gave up yards, but our kids made plays when they had to. Both teams played extremely hard. I thought our young kids grew up tonight,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.
“(Notre Dame) put together a long drive but our kids stepped up and made the plays when they had to. I can’t single out anyone. We played great team ball.”
Symmes Valley (3-4, 1-3) recovered a Titans’ fumble at the 21-yards line on the opening kickoff.
Two plays later, Keifer Wilson ran 20 yards for the touchdown and then passed to Josh Ferguson for the conversion and it was 8-0.
Notre Dame cut the deficit to 8-6 in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Logan Emnett.
The score remained 8-6 until the fourth quarter when Emnett went 2 yards to put the Titans up 12-8. He also ran for the conversion the conversion and a 14-8 lead.
The Vikings answered by driving 60 yards with Josh Ferguson running 15 yards for the touchdown on fourth-and-2. Gavin Yates kicked the deciding extra point.
But the Titans weren’t done.
The Titans took the ensuing kickoff and drove from their 28 to the Vikings’ 3-yard line. But the Vikings held on two straight plays and took over on downs with 11 seconds to play.
“We moved the ball well in the fourth quarter,” said Webb.
“The kids handled the adjustments we made on the fly. The kids did a nice job. I can’t say enough about our effort. We could have hung our heads, but we came right back after they scored.”
Wilson had 68 yards on nine carries to lead the Vikings. Ferguson added 29 on four tries.
Jack Leith was 4-of-5 passing for 46 yards with Wilson catching two passes for 33 yards.
Emnett ran 27 times for 130 yards and Jake McGuire had 120 yards on 20 carries for the Titans.
Next Friday, Symmes Valley hosts Manchester.
Sym. Valley 8 0 0 7 = 15
Notre Dame 0 6 0 8 = 14
First Quarter
SV — Keifer Wilson 20 run (Josh Ferguson pass from Keifer Wilson)
Second Quarter
PND — Logan Emnett 1 run (run failed)
Fourth Quarter
PND — Logan Emnett 2 run (Emnett run)
SV — Josh Ferguson 15 run (Gavin Yates kick)
SV ND
First downs 7 20
Rushes-yards 30-141 60-307
Passing yards 46 0
Total yards 187 307
Cmp-Att-Int 4-5-0 0-1-0
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 7-45 3-25
Punts-average 3-28.3 1-31.0
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 4-29, Derek Crum 2-10, Jack Leith 8-15, Keifer Wilson 9-68, James Newcomb 3-8, Nick Strow 4-11; Notre Dame: Jake McGuire 23-120, Logan Emnett 27-130.
PASSING — Symmes Valley: Jack Leith 4-5-0 46; Notre Dame: Caleb Nichols 0-1-0.
RECEIVING — Symmes Valley: Luke Leith 1-13, Josh Ferguson 1-0, Keifer Wilson 2-33; Notre Dame: None.