Mohawks blank Vikings 21-0

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Michael Hamilton

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McDERMOTT, OHIO – The Northwest Mohawks defeated the Symmes Valley Vikings 21-0 In a Southern Ohio Conference (SOC) Division I matchup in McDermott. The Senior Night victory gave Northwest (7-3, 5-1 SOC I) its third shutout of the season. Symmes Valley (6-4, 4-2 SOC I) suffered their first scoreless effort Friday night, ending their season.

“This was a great way to send our seniors out,” said Northwest Head Football Coach Brooks Fry. “They have been a great group for us, last year, you know sharing a conference championship and this year to get to 7-3.”

The 7-3 record is the second best football record in Northwest football history, as well as being only the seventh winning season in the program’s history.

“These guys accomplished a lot, and I’m just thrilled to death and proud for them,” said Fry.

Adding to the history making night for Northwest, this season makes the first time Northwest has had back to back .500 or better records since the 1973-74 season.

“That first half was just kind of like two blunt forces going at each other,” said Fry. “We were able to get a pass to Garrett Simon there, and give us a score lead at halftime.”

The key to the game, according to Fry was the way his team played in the second half.

“(We) were able to come out and get a stop early,” said Fry. “Then we were able to do a couple things offensively to get some guys loosened a little bit.

We controlled the game, I felt, on the offensive and defensive lines, and really held their wishbone attack down, and were able to do enough to seal it up there at the end.”

The Mohawk defense had their toughest test on a few drives in the second half, but were able to prevent the Vikings from scoring.

“We were confident in what we were set in, and it was just a matter of tweaking guys a little bit and getting them adjusted,” said Fry. “They did a great job of playing their responsibility and doing what they were supposed to do and make stops when we needed them.”

The game started off with the Northwest Mohawks on the Symmes Valley Vikings 46 yard line, but were unable to pick up the first down after a fourth down conversion.

The Vikings first drive failed to pick up a first down as well, causing a Symmes Valley punt that pinned the Mohawks inside their own 15 yard line.

In their second drive, the Mohawks were able to put together a nice drive deep into Symmes Valley territory. After a 14-yard run by Austin Jenkins, the Mohawks lined up on the Vikings 26 yard line. That run was followed up by a Hobby Howard 10-yard run.

Several plays later and after a run for a four yard loss, the Mohawks faced a fourth down situation on the Symmes Valley 16 yard line. The Mohawks opted to go for the first down instead of a field goal attempt. Garrett Rowe dropped back and fired the ball toward the right sideline, but was unable to find a Mohawk receiver.

After forcing a turnover on downs, Symmes Valley was unable to move the ball down the field and was forced to punt.

Starting on their own 44 yard line, the Mohawks had their shortest field of the game up to that point. Donnie Borens ran on first down for a 2-yard gain. On second down, Borens received the handoff from Rowe, but fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Symmes Valley on the Northwest 48 yard line.

Symmes Valley ran the ball on their next two plays, only gaining one yard. On third down, Vikings quarterback Derrek Smith was sacked for a three yard loss by Dawson Ruth and Zack Lute of Northwest, causing a fourth down situation for the Vikings.

The Mohawks and Vikings would each have their next drives end prematurely, with a Northwest punt, and a Symmes Valley turnover on downs.

Nearing the end of the first half, the Mohawks were determined to put some points on the scoreboard before halftime. Donnie Borens was given two runs to start the drive and got his team to the Symmes Valley 42 yard line. On third and short, Mohawks quarterback Garrett Rowe connected with Garrett Simon on a 42-yard touchdown pass. After a successful Amburgey point after attempt, the Mohawks led 7-0 over Symmes Valley with only 0:43 left in the half.

Beginning the third quarter, the Mohawk defense refused to give up a first down to the Vikings, and forced a fourth and long situation. On fourth down, the Vikings had a bad snap that caused the punter to be tackled by Garrett Simon for a huge loss, which turned the ball over to Northwest on the Symmes Valley nine yard line.

Backed up to the Symmes Valley 11 yard line after a run for a loss, Donnie Borens broke through the line, and scored, giving the Mohawks a 14-0 lead over the Vikings after a successful point after attempt.

Symmes Valley had its first true threat of scoring on their next drive. running 10 plays and moving the ball from their own 20 yard line to the Northwest 23 yard line. On third down, Vikings quarterback Derrek Smith dropped back for a pass, but couldn’t find his desired target as Jordan Brigner got in the way and intercepted Smith’s pass.

After another two failed drives, the Mohawks would get their third and final score of the game early in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 56-yard touchdown run by Donnie Borens. Northwest would lead 21-0 with only 11:03 left in the game.

The Vikings had another opportunity to score in the fourth quarter, as they drove deep into Mohawks territory. After a 47-yard pass, the Vikings had a first and goal on the Mohawks five yard line. Payton Hayes gained two yards on a rush, giving the Vikings a second down with only three yards to the end zone.

Collin Web would get hit in the backfield and tackled for a three yard loss, but the largest damage to the Vikings would come thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Symmes Valley after the play pushing them back to the 21 yard line. After an eight yard completion to Brandon Craft, and facing a fourth and goal, Smith would be sacked by Dawson Ruth, ending the Vikings drive, and securing the Mohawk shutout.

Reach Michael Hamilton at 740-353-3101, ext 1931 or on Twitter @MikeHamilton82

Box Score

1 2 3 4 Final

Northwest 0 7 7 7 21

Symmes Valley 0 0 0 0 0

Scoring Summary

2nd Quarter

NW – G. Rowe 42-yd pass to G. Simon (PAT good) (0:43)

3rd Quarter

NW – D. Borens 11-yd run (PAT good) (8:35)

4th Quarter

NW – D. Borens 56-yard run (PAT good) (11:03)

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