Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The Oak Forest Yellow Jackets held Magnolia Heights to -31 yards rushing and advanced to the Class AAA Division II Championship game with a resounding 42-7 thumping of Magnolia Heights in Amite last night. Nine different Jacket rushers piled up 222 yards on the ground as 18 seniors played their last home game for an Oak Forest squad just two years into playing at the Class AAA level.
(Above) Oak Forest tailback Alex Rimes (#33) rushed for 90 yards
Senior tailback Chris Gill broke a 34 yard run at the 7:21 mark of the first quarter to give the Jackets an early lead. Drew Misita’s 4 yard plunge with 13 seconds remaining in the half gave Oak Forest a 14-0 cushion at the halfway point.
Oak Forest broke the contest wide open in the second half. Blake Carter nailed Chris Gill for a 49 yard touchdown hookup and Homero Natal added the PAT to put the Jackets on top with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter.
Three fourth quarter touchdowns put the cap on a dominating night for Oak Forest. Alex Rimes ripped a 28 yard score at the 9:27 mark and Chris Gill scored his third touchdown of the night as the senior picked off Magnolia Heights quarterback Mac McDonald and raced 35 yards to put the Jackets up 35-0 with 8:35 left in the contest. 
(Above) Oak Forest tailback James Peterson (#26) gets contained by Jake O'Bannon (#22) and Sharkey Luna (#21) of Magnolia Heights
Oak Forest linebacker James Peterson followed Gill’s interception with one of his own on the Chief’s following possession. Peterson picked off the third McDonald pass of the night and scampered 46 yards to seal the deal for the Jackets.
Jake O’Bannon scored from 11 yards out with 54 seconds remaining for Magnolia Height’s only score of the night.
Alex Rimes led the Oak Forest ground game with 90 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown and Chris Gill added 59 yards on 3 carries and a rushing touchdown.
Oak Forest totaled 303 yards on the night while Magnolia Heights (6-5) finished with 146.
The Jackets (9-3) will face Pillow (9-2) Thursday night at 6pm for the Class AAA Division II Title.
Photos Courtesy of Lee Wheeler
