WEST POINT — Oak Hill finished strong to earn a shot at a state title.
Oak Hill running back Boston Cunningham once again led the charge with a four-touchdown performance to help his team claim a 36-24 victory over Kirk Academy and earn the chance to play for a state championship next Saturday.
“Unbelievable. I think it’s been 34 years since we played in the state championship,” said Oak Hill coach Tom Goode. “For a team to be 0-9 last year, and we have the same faces back, except two people, and they play with a lot of heart out there.”
Oak Hill’s defense started the game off by forcing a Kirk three-and-out, leading to a punt.
Cunningham would score for Oak Hill first on a 1-yard rushing touchdown after a Kirk return man muffed a punt, leading to an Oak Hill recovery. Cunningham would run up the middle for a successful two-point conversion attempt to make it 8-0 Oak Hill at the 3:12 mark in 1st quarter.
Cunningham would score again off a 7-yard run and then rush for a successful two-point conversion attempt to make it a 16-0 Oak Hill lead with 6:50 left in the 2nd quarter.
Kirk would respond as running back Gage Vance would score a rushing touchdown from 10 yards out with 1:34 left in the 2nd quarter, then quarterback Linton Carson would finish it off with a successful two-point conversion on a quarterback keeper to make the score 16-8 Oak Hill.
Oak Hill would then strike on the first offensive play of the second half as quarterback Jackson Holton would hit wide receiver Chantz Harris for a 67-yard receiving touchdown. Cuningham would once again score on the two-point conversion to make it a 24-8 Oak Hill lead.
Kirk would answer with a touchdown of their own as Carson would connect with wide receiver Maverick Fowler on a 30-yard receiving touchdown at the 9:38 mark in the 3rd quarter. Vance would run up the middle for a successful two-point conversion attempt to make it a 24-16 Oak Hill game.
Cunningham would once again find the endzone on a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 5:56 to go in the 3rd quarter. Cuningham would score on the two-point conversion as well to make it a 30-16 Oak Hill lead.
Cunningham would wrap up his four touchdown game with a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 3:30 left in the 4th quarter. The two point conversion attempt was no good, making the score 36-16 Oak Hill.
Kirk would score the last points of the game as Vance would score a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 1:21 left in the 4th quarter.
Carson would connect with tight end Andy Redwine on the two-point conversion to make the final score 36-24 in favor of Oak Hill.
“We say every week the big time players have to make big time plays,” Goode said. “And that’s what Chantz Harris is. Boston is a grinder, Simon Reynolds as well and I can’t say enough about our offensive line and defensive line controlling the line of scrimmage as well.”
Oak Hill will travel to Mississippi College next Saturday to play Winston Academy for the MAIS 2A Division II state championship. The Raiders defeated Winston 28-7 on Oct 3.
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