On a hot and humid night in Centreville the Oak Forest Yellow Jackets produced two late game defensive stands to preserve a 14-6 week one win over the Centreville Tigers. Quarterback Chris Gill ran for one touchdown and hit Keaton Carter with a 38 yard strike for another as the Jackets earned a hard fought win for a 1-0 start to the 2010 season.
Oak Forest took the opening possession and established their running game as four different ball carriers advanced the line of scrimmage to the Centreville 38 yard line four minutes into the opening quarter. Facing a 3rd and 8 Oak Forest quarterback Chris Gill hit senior wide-out Keanon Carter with a 38 yard touchdown strike at the 8:00 minute mark to complete a 75 yard 8 play drive. Tailback Denton Hanson went off right tackle for the two point conversion as the Jackets took an early 8-0 lead.
Oak Forest picked up 163 yards on the ground
Centreville mounted a solid drive on their initial possession and after the Oak Forest defense stiffened at the Jacket 43 yard line the Tigers converted on a 4th and 1 as Cliff Hurst went off the left side for a yard to extend the drive. Centreville’s drive stalled after a failed 3rd and 10 pass attempt with 3:30 remaining in the quarter.
Following a Cliff Hurst punt into the end-zone Oak Forest picked up a quick ten yards as tailback Alex Rimes busted through a hole to the Jacket 30 yard line. Centreville sophomore Randy Bell then picked off a Chris Gill pass at the Tiger 37 yard line at the 2:39 mark of the first quarter.
Centreville again found themselves glaring at a 3rd and long as the Oak Forest defense began controlling the line of scrimmage but a Cliff Hurst scramble for 21 yards to the Jacket 45 yard line gave the Tigers new life. Hunter Travis scampered for 14 yards to the Oak Forest 29 yard line to end the opening quarter with Oak Forest on top 8-0. 
(Above) Centreville's Cliff Hurst is stopped by Oak Forest linebacker Drew Misita
Centreville’s momentum continued as Cliff Hurst hit freshman wide-out Colby Shaw on a slant pattern that extended the drive to the Oak Forest 8 yard line. Hurst went off the left side for 4 yards to the Jacket 4 yard line but a fumbled exchange on 2nd and goal cost the Tigers three yards. Centreville then hit pay-dirt as junior tailback Hunter Travis ran in from 7 yards out on a reverse at the 9:53 mark of the second quarter to complete a 63 yard 11 play drive. The PAT attempt failed giving Oak Forest an 8-6 advantage.
Oak Forest appeared to be on their way to increasing their lead at the end of the first half. Nine consecutive rushing plays that netted 48 yards from five different backs set the Jackets up at the Centreville 18 yard line with 1:25 remaining in the half. Following an incomplete pass and a Josh Hughes run for no gain, quarterback Chris Gill nailed Keaton Carter with an 18 yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds remaining but yellow flags littered the field as the score was negated due to a holding infraction. Following an Oak Forest unsuccessful 4th down attempt to extend the drive Centreville took over and killed the half with the Jackets on top 8-6.
Defense dominated much of a quickly played 3rd quarter but Oak Forest managed to finish the final four minutes with a drive that began on their own 15 yard line and at the onset of the final quarter the Jackets were sitting at Centreville’s 18 yard line. 
(Above) Centreville tailback Hunter Travis (#2)
Quarterback Chris Gill started the final quarter with an 11 yard keeper down to the Tiger 7 yard line. Four plays later Gill would cap a 14 play 85 yard drive with a keeper from the one yard line to extend the Jackets lead to 14-6 with 9:35 remaining. The two point conversion attempt failed.
Centreville wasted little time in mounting an answer as a Hunter Travis 8 yard pickup and a 15 yard facemask penalty moved the Tigers from their own 28 yard line to midfield in quick fashion. Tyler Towles then hit senior Devin Hughes for a 19 yard hookup down to the Oak Forest 31 yard line. Centreville’s drive appeared to have stalled following a holding penalty and a loss of 5 yards on a JT Doughty run that pushed the ball back to the Oak Forest 39 yard line. On 3rd down Tyler Towles hit Hunter Travis for an 11 yard pick up to the Jackets 28 yard line. With 7:17 remaining in the 4th quarter, and facing a 4th and 12, Oak Forest was flagged for pass interference as quarterback Cliff Hurst attempted to hit Colby Shaw near the 8 yard line.
After a Hurst to Shaw reception gave the Tigers a 1st and goal from the Oak Forest 6 yard line the Jacket defense clamped down. Hurst was stopped for a 1 yard gain on 1st down and then Randy Bell was stopped for no gain setting up a crucial 3rd and goal with 5:16 remaining. A huge mistake cost the Tigers five yards pushing them back to the 10 yard line as they were flagged for delay of game. Cliff Hurst hit Randy Bell for a 5 yard pickup back to the original line of scrimmage but with 4:31 remaining Hurst was stopped for no gain on 4th down on a quarterback keeper as Oak Forest regained possession. 
(Above) Oak Forest tailback Denton Hanson (#2)
Centreville’s defense responded by allowing 0 yards on three consecutive Oak Forest running plays forcing the Jackets to punt from their own end-zone after chewing up just over two minutes on the clock.
The Tigers set up shop at the Oak Forest 29 yard line with 2:04 remaining following a Chris Gill punt. Two incomplete passes presented Centreville with a 3rd and 10 but a false start penalty pushed the ball back five yards to the 34 yard line with 1:48 left. A Hurst to Travis completion netted 6 yards to the Oak Forest 28 setting up a 4th and 9 for the Tigers with 1:02 remaining. Centreville’s last hope ended on an incomplete pass that fell at the 3 yard line.
Oak Forest took over and knelt to earn a tough 14-6 road win.
“When it was crunch time they produced and controlled the line of scrimmage and ran the ball well,” said Oak Forest head coach Jason Brabham. “Our defense made two big stands at the end of the game to win it.”
Senior tailback Alex Rimes led Oak Forest with 65 yards on the ground while quarterback Chris Gill picked up 64 yards through the air and 27 yards rushing.
Cliff Hurst led Centreville with 73 yards on the ground and 33 yards passing.
Next up for Oak Forest is a trip to Jackson to take on Jackson Academy while Centreville hosts Parklane.
**Post game with Oak Forest head coach Jason Brabham**
