WILLOW WOOD — The Symmes Valley Vikings showcased a powerful combination of offense and defense, defeating the South Point Pointers 45-24 on September 12, 2025. While the week’s discussions focused on the Vikings’ offensive strategies, it was their defense that ultimately secured the victory by stifling South Point’s renowned ground game.
Symmes Valley’s defense held South Point’s standout junior running back, Landon Vance, to just 98 yards, significantly below his average of over 200 yards in previous games. The Vikings capitalized on two first-half turnovers that resulted in scores, helping them establish a commanding lead by halftime.
“I’m proud of them. There was some adversity there, especially against a team like South Point,” said Symmes Valley head coach Ben Ferguson. “If you’re not disciplined and ready to handle their athletes, they can give you trouble. Which they did in the first half.”
The game opened with Symmes Valley quickly asserting dominance. They drove 69 yards in just nine plays, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown run by quarterback Bronx Carpenter. Following a miscue on South Point’s first play, the Vikings recovered a fumble at the Pointers’ 41-yard line and scored again, with Carpenter connecting with Jackson Fields for an 18-yard touchdown.
South Point managed to respond with an 8-play drive that featured a 10-yard touchdown run from Vance. However, the Vikings quickly countered, with Carpenter hitting Fields again for a 49-yard touchdown, extending their lead to 21-6.
The Pointers fought back in the second quarter, with Vance scoring two more touchdowns. Yet, Symmes Valley continued to apply pressure, with Carpenter throwing two touchdown passes to Levi Russell, one of which was a remarkable 70-yard play. At halftime, the Vikings led 37-24.
The third quarter was marked by defensive prowess from both teams, as the offenses struggled to find the end zone. “In the second half, we made some little adjustments that worked out,” Ferguson noted. “We had some stupid penalties, but that’s something we can clean up.”
The only score of the second half came early in the fourth quarter when Asher Maynard scored a 2-yard touchdown run, finalizing the game at 45-24.
South Point head coach Chris Davis expressed disappointment over the poor start but commended his team’s resilience. “You can’t start a game off that way. It puts you behind,” he said. “In the second half, we had stops, we just couldn’t get the offense going. The defense played great in the second half.”
The game also faced an unexpected delay when the stadium lights went out at halftime, causing a nearly 40-minute interruption before play resumed.
Carpenter had an impressive performance, completing 29 of 36 passes for 406 yards and throwing four touchdown passes. Fields stood out with a remarkable 11 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
As the Vikings prepare to take on Fairfield Christian Academy next week, South Point will return home to face Rock Hill in their Ohio Valley Conference opener.
