Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

WILLOW WOOD — The last home game was good. Now the Symmes Valley Vikings would like to make the last regular season away game even better.
The Vikings blanked the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 33-0 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Friday to virtually clinch a playoff spot.
“It was a good senior night. The kids got to win their last home game and they played well. We set ourselves up for an SOC title,” said Vikings’ coach Rusty Webb.
Symmes Valley (8-1, 4-0) will play at Northwest (6-3, 4-0) next Friday in a battle for the SOC championship.
“I thought our defense played exceptionally well,” said Webb. “They have moved the ball on about everyone this season and they moved it early on us. But our kids made the adjustments after the first series and shut them down.”
The Vikings used a strong ground game to stay unbeaten in the SOC. Symmes Valley ran 49 times for 440 yards.
Josh Ferguson had another big game with 185 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown while Jack Leith rushed 12 times for 119 yards and a TD. Ethan Patterson had 70 yards on seven tries and scored two touchdowns.
Portsmouth Notre Dame (0-9, 0-4) was limited to 40 net yards rushing and 2-of-4 passing for 25 yards.
After the Titans ate most of the first quarter clock with a 49-yard drive, the Vikings put together their own drive capped by Patterson’s 9-yard scoring run. Gavan Yates conversion kick made it 7-0.
The Vikings’ defense forced a three-and-out and then drove for a score as Ferguson went 16 yards for the touchdown and Yates’ kick made it 14-0 at the half.
Symmes Valley took the second half kickoff and marched 60 yards with Patterson running 20 yards for the TD and it was 20-0.
The Titans had a bad snap on a punt and the Vikings got the ball deep in their territory setting up a 28-yard scoring run by Derek Crum.
Jack Leith capped the three-touchdown third quarter as he shook loose on a 26-yard run and it was 33-0.
Notre Dame 0 0 0 0 = 0
Sym. Valley 0 14 19 0 = 33
Second Quarter
SV — Ethan Patterson 9 run (Gavan Yates kick)
SV — Josh Ferguson 16 run (Gavan Yates kick)
Third Quarter
SV — Ethan Patterson 20 run (kick failed)
SV — Derek Crum 28 run (Gavan Yates kick)
SV — Jack Leith 26 run (kick failed)
PND SV
First downs 7 22
Rushes-yards 38-40 49-440
Passing yards 25 14
Total yards 65 454
Cmp-Att-Int 2-4-0 1-5-0
Fumbles-lost 7-0 3-1
Penalties-yards 5-25 17-183
Punts-average 5-27.0 1-35.0
Individual Leaders
RUSHING —Notre Dame: Austin Vaughters 6-23, Jake McGuire 17-21; Symmes Valley: Nick Strow 6-27, Wyatt Owens 3-7, Ethan Patterson 7-70, Alec Beckett 2-1, Jack Leith 12-119, Derek Crum 4-31, Josh Ferguson 14-185.
PASSING — Notre Dame: Jake McGuire 2-4-0 25; Symmes Valley: Jack Leith 1-5-0 14.
RECEIVING — Notre Dame: Caleb Nichols 1-18, Carter Campbell 1-7; Symmes Valley: Josh Ferguson 1-14.