Vikings outscore Titans in wild shoot out; clinch top 8 spot in playoffs

Photo by Kayla Niece

Photo by Kayla Niece

Photo by Kayla Niece

WILLOW WOOD — Two high-powered offenses were on display on Friday night, as Symmes Valley and Notre Dame combined for 47 first downs and over 1,049 yards. But in the end, the Vikings came up with more plays on offense and made some key defensive stops to beat the Titans 63-47 in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

But despite both teams piling up the numbers on nearly every play, Symmes Valley coach Ben Ferguson said afterwards he felt it was just a handful of plays that wound up being the difference.

"You know, it was one of those games like Coach Carpenter told the kids on Thursday, that six plays can determine the outcome of the game. So that big break in the first quarter where we got the pick six and we responded every time we had a setback, our kids responded."

Senior Andy Strow, who missed four games during the year due to a lower body injury, was thankful to be able to be back in time to help down the stretch and get a win on senior night.

"It's a surreal feeling. My first thought was we're all hype, but in reality, it's all glory to God. He gave us the chance to be here and play our best and play like we play."

The Vikings offense was highlighted by three big performances. Through the air, it was Bronx Carpenter and Jackson Fields. Carpenter went 25-of-36 passing for 359 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Fields caught 13 passes for 237 yards and 5 touchdown receptions.

The third contributor for the Vikings was Asher Maynard. The sophomore running back finished with 19 carries for a career-high 149 yards on the ground and found the end zone twice. But even Maynard got into the act in the passing game, as Maynard tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Fields to give the Vikings their first score of the game.

Here's some razzle-dazzle from the Vikings, as Bronx Carpenter throws a bomb to Jackson Fields off a reverse pass. The play resulted in the Vikings scoring just a few plays later.

The Titans were led offensively by their dual threat quarterback Luke Cassidy, who accounted for 367 of Notre Dame's 466 total yards. Cassidy ran for 180 yards and scored 4 rushing touchdowns, and threw for 187 yards and a score. Bryce McGraw was the other Titan that contributed in the run game, running for 95 yards on 12 carries and 2 rushing scores in the second half.

With the Vikings already up 7-0, the defense came up with the first big turnover and immediately turned it into points.

On a 3rd-and-3 play, Cassidy tried to hit an out pattern to Chris Piccolo, but the ball sailed over the receiver and Gradee Holland was there to pick the pass off in stride and ran 53 yards the other way for the score and stretch the Vikings lead to 14-0.

That wouldn't be the last time the Vikings would come up with interceptions. Carpenter and Beckem Roth came up with one apiece in the fourth quarter to close the door on a Titan comeback.

Cassidy ripped off two more touchdown runs as the Titans began to find their rhythm in the second. Then McGraw plowed in from 9-yard out to cut the Vikings lead to just 35-34 following Coleman Shaffer's extra point with 1:26 remaining before halftime.

Symmes Valley (8-1, 3-1) dipped into their bag of tricks again to set up another score just before halftime.

From their own 41, Carpenter hit Fields on a short curl, then Fields lateralled the ball to Roth, and Roth split two defenders and raced down to the Titan 26. On the very next play, Carpenter lofted a pass up into the end zone and Fields made a diving catch backwards for the score.

The Vikings led 41-34 at the break.

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The Titans took the ball to begin the second half and began to drive right down the field before facing a critical 4th-and-3 at the Symmes Valley 33. Cassidy took a direct snap and tried to follow both his blockers, but defensive tackle Tucker Ross was able to shed off a block and make the initial hit in the hole before the rest of the defense swarmed for the fourth down stop.

""We've had a rough four years and our upfront hasn't always been the strongest. But we've come together and got a front four now that's making plays more and more. We stonewalled them on that fourth down," said senior lineman Tucker Ross.

The Vikings capitalized on the stop with a 13-yard touchdown run by Carpenter. On the two-point try, Carpenter made the catch on his back from Fields to extend the lead to 49-34 with 6:58 remaining in the third.

Notre Dame was able to close the gap to being the fourth with Cassidy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Stombock on fourth-and-goal, cutting the Vikings lead to 49-47.

The Titans decided to roll the dice and tie the game up on the two-point conversion. But Cassidy found himself under pressure from a heavy pass rush and was forced to make an off-balanced throw and the pass went off the mark.

The stop shifted the momentum, as the Vikings tacked on two more touchdown passes by Carpenter to Fields, putting the exclamation point on the win.

Ferguson also gave praise to both his seniors, Strow and Ross, at being able to earn a big win on senior night.

"You look at those guys the first three years on the team, they were always here no matter what. We had some scarce years in terms of wins, but they stuck it out. But they have a great attitude and they lead the younger guys. I can say enough about them."

In terms of playoff implications, the win secured a top 8 finish for the Vikings. But a win next week could move the Vikings into the top 4 — which comes with a bye for the opening round and a home game the following week.

The Vikings close out the regular season on the road against South Gallia next Friday. Notre Dame will be at Sciotoville East.

Notre Dame 14 20 7 6 = 47

Sy. Valley 20 21 8 14 = 63

First Quarter

SV — Jackson Fields 4 pass from Asher Maynard (Miguel Ferreira kick), 8:41.

SV — Gradee Holland 53 interception return (Miguel Ferreira kick), 7:48.

ND — Luke Cassidy 23 run (Coleman Shaffer kick), 5:52.

SV — Asher Maynard 5 run (kick failed), 5:00.

ND — Luke Cassidy 28 run (Coleman Shaffer kick), 2:40.

Second Quarter

SV — Asher Maynard 4 run (Bronx Carpenter pass to Jackson Fields), 11:57.

ND — Luke Cassidy 10 run (kick no good), 8:05.

ND — Luke Cassidy 47 run (Coleman Shaffer kick), 5:18.

SV — Jackson Fields 20 pass from Bronx Carpenter (Miguel Ferreira kick), 2:15.

ND — Bryce McGraw 9 run (Coleman Shaffer kick), 1:26.

SV — Jackson Fields 25 pass from Bronx Carpenter (kick no good), 0:50.

Third Quarter

SV — Bronx Carpenter 13 run (Jackson Fields pass to Carpenter), 6:58.

ND — Bryce McGraw 12 run (Coleman Shaffer kick), 1:26.

Fourth Quarter

ND — Jaxon Stombock 4 pass from Luke Cassidy (pass failed), 10:57.

SV — Jackson Fields 63 pass from Bronx Carpenter (Miguel Ferreira kick), 10:47.

SV — Jackson Fields 20 pass from Bronx Carpenter (Miguel Ferreira kick), 4:49.

———

ND SV

First downs 18 29

Rushes-yards 32-275 32-186

Passing yards 191 397

Total yards 466 583

Cmp-Att-Int 14-24-3 26-38-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yards 4-35 7-70

Punts-average 2-44.5 3-36.0

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Notre Dame: Bryce McGraw 12-95 2-TD, Luke Cassidy 20-180 4-TD; Symmes Valley: Bronx Carpenter 10-46 TD, Asher Maynard 19-149 2-TD, Team 3-minus 9.

PASSING – Notre Dame: Luke Cassidy 13-10-2 187 TD, Ethan Kingrey 1-4-1 8; Symmes Valley: Bronx Carpenter 25-36-0 359 4-TD, Asher Maynard 1-2-0 4 TD.

RECEIVING – Notre Dame: Jaxon Stombock 6-55 TD, Chris Piccolo 1-12, Bryce McGraw 4-73, Connor Estep 1-6, Ethan Kingrey 2-49; Symmes Valley: Andy Strow 4-58, Levi Russell 2-71, Gradee Holland 1-3, Beckem Roth 2-2, Jackson Fields 13-237 5-TD, Asher Maynard 4-26-52.

MISSED FIELD GOALS – None.