For the Oak Forest Yellow Jackets the stinging 17-14 loss they suffered at the hands of the Centreville Tigers in last season’s South AA State Title game has lingered for eight months. For OFA coaches and returning players August 21st had to have been circled on their calendar. Last night in Amite the Oak Forest Yellow Jackets shut out the defending State AA Champion Centreville Tigers 12-0 to avenge that heartbreaking playoff loss at Centreville last season.
(Above) Oak Forest quarterback James Peterson
Junior quarterback James Peterson rushed for 72 yards on 13 carries and threw for 98 yards on the night to lead the Jackets. While Peterson only attempted four passes he connected on three, the biggest came midway through the second quarter as Oak Forest faced a 3rd and 15 from their own 41 yard line. Peterson was ready to receive the snap while in the shotgun but mishandled it causing the junior to scramble for control of the football and when he did he sprinted to his right and spotted junior running back Drew Misita open downfield. Misita made the catch and avoided a Centreville defender to sprint into the end-zone and cap-off a 59 yard score. The extra point attempt failed but Oak Forest took a 6-0 2nd quarter lead.
(Above) Centreville's Zach Sinclair finished with 84 yards on 19 carries
On Centreville’s next possession the Tigers were facing a 3rd and 7 from their own 20 yard line when Colby Lockwood broke through the Oak Forest defense for an 80 yard touchdown run. But as Tiger fans roared and Jacket fans grimaced, a yellow piece of laundry lay back near Centreville’s 20 yard line. A holding call on the Tigers would negate the touchdown and would prove to be one of the biggest plays of the night. Four plays later Philip Ingraffia would pick off a Cliff Hurst pass at the Jacket 49 yard line. Oak Forest would manage to get to the Tiger 34 yard line but two straight running plays for losses pushed OFA back to the 42 yard line forcing a punt with 1:00 remaining in the half. Centreville wasn’t able to move the ball and punted to end the half trailing 6-0.
(Above) Peterson met by Centreville's Tyler Towles (#8)
Centreville opened up the second half on their own 24 yard line and most fans expecting a trademark burst for a long gain from Tiger running back Zach Sinclair, but Centreville looked tentative on their first possession of the second half. The Tigers ran seven plays which included a Sinclair six yard gain off right tackle and two more short gains, but there was also a false start and two fumbled snaps, the last one Oak Forest recovered on the Tiger 35 yard line. Oak Forest looked primed to add more damage as junior Chris Gill broke off runs of 20 and 5 yards after a motion penalty to move the Jackets to the Tiger 15 yard line but on 2nd and 5 Centreville’s Colby Lockwood picked off a James Gill pass intended for Drew Misita in the corner of the end-zone.
Centreville appeared ready to take advantage of the turnover but another fumble and recovery in the backfield pushed the Tigers back four yards. Six of the next seven plays were Zach Sinclair runs, one a 13 yard push around the right side. The Tigers converted on a 4th and 1 from their own 43 yard line on a Sinclair 3 yard dive but the drive would stall on their 46 after a Cliff Hurst incomplete pass on a 3rd and 7 play. The fourth quarter would be one in which Oak Forest totally dominated. The Jackets would tally 21 offensive plays to just 4 for Centreville. The final Oak Forest possession began on their own 24 yard line after a Tiger punt. Oak Forest began heading backwards after a rash of penalties and appeared to be pinned deep but a Peterson to Gill hookup for 25 yards would set up a 4th and 1 at the Jacket’s own 33 yard line. Chris Gill got the call and produced a 3 yard gain for a first down with 4:42 left in the contest. Five of the next six calls would go to either Peterson or Gill as the Jackets chewed up the remaining minutes and James Peterson would cap off the drive with a 17 yard scamper around the left end with 27 seconds left. The Jacket two point attempt failed and Oak Forest had all but secured a 12-0 win.
Junior Chris Gill carried the ball 9 times for 57 yards, Denton Hanson had 31 yards on 10 carries and Drew Misita had two receptoins for 73 yards and one touchdown for Oak Forest. The Jackets outgained Centreville 160 - 89 on the ground and 112 - 0 in the air. Oak Forest had two turnovers to Centreville's four.
Zach Sinclair finished with 84 yards on 19 carries.
Next up for Oak Forest will be Jackson Academy in Amite while Centreville heads to McComb to tackle Parklane.
