Jackson had their hands full and found out that they could very well see the Jackets again before the season is done. Oak Forest had Jackson on the ropes but fell to the home team 36-20.
“The kids played hard. We came up here knowing that we had to play a very good game to be in position and that’s what the team did,” said Oak Forest Coach Jason Brabham. Oak Forest dominated the game from a stats standpoint but a couple of mistakes and a big special teams play allowed Jackson to escape with a win.
The Yellow Jackets O-Line paved the way for 266-yards of total offense and twenty points. The Jackets had perhaps their best half of football in the first twenty-four minutes of the game. Oak Forest built a 12-0 lead in the first half with solid play on both sides of the ball.
Jackson would get back into the game late in the first half with two field goals to cut the Jackets lead in half down just 12-6 at the break. The Jackets played ball control on offense with long time consuming drives including one drive that took nineteen plays. The Jackets got another big night from Alex Rimes. Rimes carried the ball nine times for 140-yards. Rimes averaged 15.6 yards per carry against Jackson.
The Jackets physical style on both sides of the ball also resulted in some key injuries. QB Chris Gill left the game with an ankle injury before halftime, Drew Misita also went down to injury but returned in the game to help the Jackets on defense.
Jackson came out and took control of the game with two third quarter TD’s to take a 23-12 lead over the visiting OFA Jackets. Oak Forest made their share of errors in helping Jackson take control of the game.
JA had a 95-yard kickoff return for a score, a 19-yard interception and a key fumble recovery that doomed the Jackets. But Oak Forest showed and proved that they belonged and will be able to compete with the best teams in MAIS in just their second season in Class 3A.
Jackson would go on to win the game 36-20 but the rest of the Class will not take these Jackets lightly any more. The Jackets open their home schedule this Friday Night as rival Bowling Green will be in town. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at E.J. Courtney Stadium on the Oak Forest Campus.
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