Defense, Maynard's 3 TDs help to keep Vikings record perfect

Photo by Kayla Niece

Photo by Kayla Niece

Photo by Kayla Niece

Photo by Kayla Niece

LANCASTER — A key defensive stop in the fourth quarter, along with Asher Maynard's 3 touchdown runs proved to be enough for the Symmes Valley Vikings as they took down the Fairfield Christian Knights on Friday night.

For the past four games, the Vikings have been able to put up big numbers on the offensive side of the ball with its pass happy game plan.

But on Friday, the Vikings seemingly shifted gears and went to the ground to the tune of 161 rushing yards, giving the Vikings a balanced attack.

Maynard carried the load for the Vikings, carrying the ball 22 times for 124 yards and scoring three times on the ground. Maynard also caught 3 passes for 29 yards.

And while the passing game didn't put up the huge numbers it's accustomed to, quarterback Bronx Carpenter still finished 11 of 19 for 137 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target Jackson Fields led Vikings receivers with 3 catches for 85 yards and a score.

Special teams set up the first score for the Vikings, as a kickoff return deep into Knights territory set up Maynard's first score from 6 yards out. Miguel Ferreira added the extra point to make it a 7-point advantage.

A mistake from the Vikings turned out to be what set up their next score.

The Vikings put together a 13-play drive that set them up at the Knight 10. However the drive would end on third-and-goal, as Carpenter rolled out to his right and tried to thread the needle, only for Zachary Price to come up with an interception at the Knights own 1.

On the ensuing play, Kaeleb Debrah took a handoff and was met immediately by Trey Campbell and Tucker Ross, as both interior linemen combined for the safety and the free kick to follow.

It took just two plays for Symmes Valley (5-0) to cash in again. On first down, Carpenter hit Fields for a 35-yard gain to the 6. Then Maynard finished things off with another run from 6 yards to extend the lead to 15-0 with 5:51 remaining in the opening frame.

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The Knights finally got on the board in the second quarter on a 2-yard touchdown scramble by Brayden Stem. The two-point conversion pass sailed incomplete to make the score 15-6.

The Vikings answered on their ensuing possession with a 7-play, 57-yard drive. Maynard carried the ball the final five plays to finish off the drive. His final run was a 2-yarder to make the score 21-6.

The Knights (2-3) converted a pass on fourth-and-14 for their next and final score of the game.

Stem lofted a pass up to TJ Blair in the back corner of the end zone, and the senior wide receiver came down with the ball for the score. The extra point sailed wide right to make the score 21-12 with 6:18 before halftime.

Both teams threatened to score at the end of the half, but both defenses came up with interceptions to thwart the scoring chances.

In the third, FCA took the ball to begin the half and drove into Viking territory. But the drive fizzled out as the Vikings forced three straight incompletions and forced the Knights to punt.

The Vikings cashed in on the stop just six plays later.

On a 2nd-and-8 play, Carpenter rolled to his left on an RPO and Fields slipped past the entire defense. Carpenter connected with the fellow sophomore and 42-yards later, the Vikings were in the end zone again.

Maynard added the 2-point conversion to make the score 29-12.

The Knights ensuing possession proved to be the critical moment of the game and the Viking defense was able to bend but not break.

The Knights got the ball back at their own 12 and put together their best drive of the second half, marching all the way down to the Vikings 2. But a sacks on consecutive plays by Ayden Freeman and Caleb Mount brought up a fourth-and-goal from the 5.

On fourth down, the Vikings defense snuffed out a jet sweep run by Blair, giving the ball back to Symmes Valley at their own 3.

The Knights did get the ball back again late in the game, but a desperation pass from Stem down the middle of the field was picked off by Carpenter and pretty much ended FCA's comeback chances.

FCA was led offensively by Stem, as he completed 17 of his 30 passes for 302 yards to go along with his score. His top target on the night was Blair, who caught 10 passes for 181 yards.

The Vikings return home for their SOC opener against Green.

Sy. Valley 15 6 8 0 = 29

Fair. Christian 0 12 0 0 = 12

First Quarter

SV — Asher Maynard 6 run (Miguel Ferreira kick)

SV — Safety (Kaeleb Debrah tackled in end zone by Trey Campbell and Tucker Ross), 5:51.

SV — Asher Maynard 6 run (kick blocked), 5:13.

Second Quarter

FC — Brayden Stem 2 run (pass failed), 11:24.

SV — Asher Maynard 6 run (pass failed),

FC — TJ Blair 23 pass from Brayden Stem (kick failed), 6:18.

Third Quarter

SV — Jackson Fields 42 pass from Bronx Carpenter (Maynard run)

———

SV FC

First downs 18 18

Rushes-yards 29-161 26-23

Passing yards 140 302

Total yards 301 325

Cmp-Att-Int 12-20-2 17-30-3

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 4-40 6-75

Punts-average 3-21.34 1-32.0

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Symmes Valley: Beckem Roth 1-minus 2, Bronx Carpenter 6-39, Asher Maynard 22-124 3-TD; Fairfield Christian: TJ Blair 3-9, Kaeleb Debrah 2-2, Brayden Stem 19-15 TD, Lucas Brinley 2-minus 3.

PASSING – Symmes Valley: Bronx Carpenter 11-19-2 137 TD, Asher Maynard 1-1-0 3; Fairfield Christian: Brayden Stem 17-30-3 302 TD.

RECEIVING – Symmes Valley: Ayden Freeman 1-6, Levi Russell 3-14, Bronx Carpenter 1-3, Jackson Fields 3-85 TD, Mason Adams 1-3, Asher Maynard 3-29; Fairfield Christian: TJ Blair 10-181, Zachary Price 1-15, Lucas Brinley 4-35.

MISSED FIELD GOALS – Chase Moore (Fairfield Christian) 28 wide left.