SCIOTOVILLE — The Symmes Valley Vikings won the battle and lost the war.
The Vikings outgained the Sciotoville East Tartans but came up just short on the scoreboard as they lost 22-18 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday.
Symmes Valley (4-5, 1-4) had 317 total yards to 236 for East and ran 56 plays to 38 for the Tartans. But a big defensive play by East proved to be the difference.
“Our kids played extremely hard. We just came up a little bit short,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.
Sciotoville East (3-6, 2-3) took an 8-0 lead on a 3-yard run by Chandler Carver in the second quarter.
The Vikings then drove deep into East territory with time running out in the half. On an attempted pass, Kyle Flannery came up with the interception at the 1-yard line and turned it into a 99-yard pick six.
Carver ran for the conversion and it was 16-0 as the half ended.
The Vikings came out in the second half and scored quickly on a 61-yard run by Jack Leith and it was 16-6.
The Tartans answered with a 6-yard scoring run by Chase Coyle and it was 22-6.
After an exchange of punts, the Vikings stripped the ball and recovered at midfield.
Symmes Valley went on a scoring drive capped by Leith’s 1-yard run and it was 22-12.
After holding East on downs, the Vikings drove again and scored on a 1-yard run by Keifer Wilson and it was 22-18 with time running out.
The Vikings got the onside kickoff with 2:45 left and marched to the 25-yard line only to turn the ball over on downs.
“We were able to make adjustments with our kids in the second half and I thought they did an outstanding job. We didn’t play well in the first half, but we re-grouped at the half and played an outstanding second half.
The Vikings ran 44 times for 252 yards as Wilson carried 20 times for 107 yards and Leith had 10 carries for 97 yards.
Leith was 4-of-12 passing for 65 yards.
East was led by Coyle who ran for 82 yards while Flannery had 68 yards.
Next Friday, Symmes Valley hosts Northwest.
Sym. Valley 0 0 6 12 = 18
Sciotoville 0 16 6 0 = 22
Second Quarter
SE — Chandler Carver 3 run (Carver run)
SE — Kyle Flannery 99 interception return (Chandler Carver run)
Third Quarter
SV — Jack Leith 61 run (pass failed)
SE — Chase Coyle 6 run (pass failed)
Fourth Quarter
SV —Jack Leith 1 run (pass failed)
SV —Keifer Wilson 1 run (run failed)
SV SE
First downs 17 12
Rushes-yards 44-252 30-168
Passing yards 65 68
Total yards 317 236
Cmp-Att-Int 4-12-1 4-8-0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2
Penalties-yards 9-60 11-62
Punts-average 1-25.0 2-29.5
Individual Leaders
RUSHING — Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 12-46, Derek Crum 1-0, Jack Leith 10-97, Keifer Wilson 20-107, Nick Strow 1-2; Sciotoville East: Chase Coyle 15-82, Kyle Flannery 11-68.
PASSING — Symmes Valley: Jack Leith 4-12-1 65; Sciotoville East: Chase Coyle 3-7-0 28, Kyle Flannery 1-1-0 40.
RECEIVING — Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 2-21, Luke Leith 1-45, Christian Gilbert 1-9; Sciotoville East: Chandler Carver 2-23, Will Shope 1-0, Tyler Winston 1-40.