By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

BIDWELL — The Symmes Valley Vikings know how to do football math. Possessions minus turnovers equal wins.

Guilty of 8 turnovers in their first three games, the Vikings limited their turnovers to a pair of late interceptions and they got their first win in three outings as they knocked off the River Valley Raiders 27-6 on Saturday.

The game was postponed from Friday due to inclement weather.

A prime example of how turnovers can hurt a team came on the first play of the game as River Valley fumbled and the Vikings recovered at the Raiders’ 31.

Will Jones ran for 14 yards, Dylan Urban hit Andy Strow for 12 yards and on a fourth-and-goal Urban connected with Branson Edwards for the score from 6 yards out.

Jones kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 at the 8:58 mark.

After forcing a punt, the Vikings went 64 yards in 8 plays with Urban dumping the ball off to Jones who zig-zagged his way past defenders and into the end zone from 11 yards out and it was 13-0 with 4:08 on the clock.

A good return on a River Valley punt put the Vikings at the Raiders’ 28 and it took just 2 plays to score.

Asher Maynard ran for 20 yards and Urban went the final 8 on a keeper with 2:23 left in the quarter. Jones kicked the conversion and it was 20-0.

The Vikings went up 27-0 with 8:50 left in the half on a 31-yard pass from Urban to Logan Simpkins. Jones added his third conversion kick.

The Vikings lost the ball on a strip fumble on their next possession and had a drive to the River Valley 17 only to have time run out in the half.

The Vikings’ offense bogged down in the second half as 2 drives ended on interceptions, one on an incomplete pass on fourth down and another turned the ball over on a fourth down strip sack.

The Raiders avoided the shutout with a 35-yard scoring by quarterback Gary Perry on a fourth-and-10 play with 8:22 left.

The Vikings finished with 299 total yards with Urban hitting 19-of-29 passes for 214 yards and 3 touchdowns. Gradee Holland had 8 receptions for 68 yards, Andy Strow 4 grabs for 62 yards, Simpkins 3 receptions for 46 yards and a score, Jones 3 catches for 26 yards with a TD and Edwards 2 catches for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Jones also led the Vikings ground game with 78 yards on 13 carries.

River Valley had 65 of its 134 total offense in the fourth quarter. The Raiders ran 36 times for 72 yards and No.15 was 5-of-13 passing for 62 yards and a pair of interceptions.

The Vikings play at South Point in a non-league game next Friday.

Sym. Valley    20 7 0 0 = 27

River Valley 0 0 0 6 = 6

First Quarter

SV — Branson Edwards 6 pass from Dylan Urban (Will Jones kick) 8:58

SV — Will Jones 11 pass from Dylan Urban (kick failed) 4:08

SV — Dylan Urban 8 run (Will Jones kick) 2:23

Second Quarter

SV — Logan Simpkins 31 pass from Dylan Urban (Will Jones kick) 4:50

Fourth Quarter

RV — Gary Perry 35 run (run failed) 8:22

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SVRV

First downs 20 10

Rushes-yards 23-85 36-72

Passing yards 214 62

Total yards 299 134

Cmp-Att-Int 19-29-2 5-13-2

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1

Penalties-yards 5-55 4-20

Punts-average 0-00.0 3-27.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING–Symmes Valley: Will Jones 13-78, Asher Maynard 2-19, Dylan Urban 8-minus 12; River Valley: Gary Perry 26-68 TD, Gary Truance 6-8, Luke McCloud 1-2, Ethan Jividen 1-3, Team 2-minus 9.

PASSING–Symmes Valley: Dylan Urban 19-29-2 214 3-TD; River Valley: No.15 5-13-2 62.

RECEIVING–Symmes Valley: Andy Strow 4-62, Branson Edwards 2-12 TD, Gradee Holland 8-68, Logan Simpkins 3-46 TD, Will Jones 3-26 TD; River Valley: Luke McCloud 1-37, Ethan Jividen 2-3, Cash Hunt 1-20, Gary Truance 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.