The Bowling Green Buccaneers suffered a tough setback at home this past Friday night, as the Oak Forest Academy Yellow Jackets rolled to a 35-0 victory at W.E. Buck Hellen Stadium.
Oak Forest's ground game, led by running back Kade Perkins (#7), who scored 26 points rushing and kicking, proved unstoppable as the Buccaneers dropped to 0-3 in the season with district play drawing closer.
•First Half
The Jackets received the opening kickoff and controlled the clock throughout the first quarter. Oak Forest fumbled twice but recovered both times, keeping possession and maintaining momentum. They scored a touchdown early, but the play was nullified due to a holding penalty. The Jackets finally broke through at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Bowling Green's offense, led by quarterback Kerston Diddon and running backs Jesse Gaines and Nathan Pylant, with a run from Nick Schilling, was unable to gain positive yardage on its opening drive, ending in a punt. Perkins struck again on Oak Forest's next drive, extending the lead to 13-0 after a failed two-point conversion.
The Buccaneers battled hard as the first quarter wound down, but a turnover on downs at the Jacket 44-yard line set up Oak Forest near midfield. Perkins carried the ball three straight times and found the end zone again, this time with a successful conversion for a 21-0 score. Another Bowling Green drive ended with a punt, allowing Perkins to cap yet another Jacket touchdown with a quick rush, pushing the margin to 28-0.
Bowling Green's next drive started with a highlight as Ryn Rivernbark returned the Jacket kickoff all the way to the 4-yard line, giving the Buccaneers excellent field position. Despite the strong start, the drive stalled, and Bowling Green turned the ball over on downs at the Oak Forest one-yard line. The Jackets then drove strongly down the field and appeared to score another touchdown, but the play was negated due to penalties. Shortly afterward, Trent Penton intercepted a pass, injecting new energy into the Buccaneers' offense, though additional penalties erased the turnover. The halftime score remained 28-0 in favor of Oak Forest.
•Second Half
The Buccaneers received the second-half kickoff but were unable to gain ground, turning the ball over on downs. The Bowling Green defense responded by holding Oak Forest and forcing a punt, but the Buccaneers' next drive also stalled, ending in a punt. Oak Forest returned that punt for a touchdown, and with the successful PAT, the Jackets extended the lead to 35-0.
Bowling Green's offense struggled again on the following possession and was forced to punt on fourth down. Oak Forest rotated in substitutions, and a miscue on their next series allowed freshman Jake O'Bryant to recover a fumble for the Buccaneers. Bowling Green fought hard to get on the scoreboard and advanced to the Jacket 14-yard line, but the drive stalled, and the Buccaneers came up empty. Time expired with Oak Forest securing the 35-0 shutout.
The Buccaneers continue to face challenges against MAIS 4A schools before MAIS District 4-3A play begins. They will face Brookhaven Academy at home this week at W.E. Buck Hellen Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
•Coach Dean King's Take
"We came out aggressive. Our guys were making effort and playing hard. At half, our guys came out and played hard in the second half, showing no quit!!" King said.
Quarterback Kerston Diddon drops back as he look for an open receiver in the Bucs-Oak Forest game.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY SCHILLING
