NATCHEZ &045; Perhaps veteran coach Bobby Marks didn’t know the exact numbers, but he knew they added up to nothing good for his team.

With a backfield decimated by injuries and an attacking Oak Forest defense, Marks and his Adams County Christian team adopted a pass-first offensive strategy. It didn’t work.

The Rebels attempted a season-high 32 passes &045; including three that were intercepted &045; in a 40-10 loss to Oak Forest on Friday night. The loss was the first of the season for the Rebels (5-1).

&uot;We had thrown the ball about nine times in five games, and tonight, we threw at least 25 passes, maybe more,&uot; Marks said. &uot;The team is 5-0, and I’m 0-1. I’m the reason we lost. I didn’t have us prepared for a passing attack.&uot;

Plenty of credit also goes to the Oak Forest duo of A.J. Pettito and Shane Holland.

Holland scored on runs of 1 and 8 yards, while Pettito caught a 51-yard touchdown from Holland and also intercepted pass to set up another score.

Holland and Pettito played key roles as the Yellow Jackets scored 26 second-half points to counter four turnovers. Cody Husser also had 109 yards rushing, including a 27-yard touchdown run in the second half.

&uot;At halftime, we stressed that we can’t let Oak Forest beat Oak Forest,&uot; Yellow Jackets coach Jason Brabham said. &uot;We stressed that we’ve got to make plays, not make mistakes. I think we did a better job of that in the second half.&uot;

The Rebels’ lack of a running game also played a vital role in the game’s outcome.

ACCS managed just 33 yards rushing on 21 carries against a relentless Oak Forest defense. After the first two series, both three-and-out, the Rebels abandoned their run-oriented T-formation in favor of the shotgun formation.

Rebels quarterback Timmy Foster threw for 196 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown to Cole Bradford, but he was intercepted three times.

&uot;He’s a good quarterback, (but) I’ve just got to get us better prepared in the passing game,&uot; Marks said.

Oak Forest forced five turnovers, including two second-half interceptions that clinched the game.

After falling behind 14-0, the Rebels cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime after Foster hooked up with Bradford midway through the second quarter.

Then, after Austin Williams intercepted an Oak Forest pass on the third play of the second half, Foster kicked a 36-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 9:03 to go in the third quarter.

Oak Forest senior A.J. Pettito regained the momentum by intercepting a pass and returning it 58 yards to the ACCS 1, setting up quarterback Shane Holland’s 1-yard TD run.

A few minutes later, Oak Forest’s Mark Thompson returned an interception 34 yards to set up another Yellow Jackets touchdown.

&uot;Those two interceptions that gave them two touchdowns, that really put the game out of reach,&uot; Marks said.

&uot;Up to that point, we were in the ball game.&uot;