By Robert Wilson
Even though his team hadn’t won but one game this season, Jim Hill’s Jakobi Ratliff had had a good season and was determined to make a difference against Forest Hill, a team Jim Hill had not had much success against over the past decade.
Ratliff did.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior defensive lineman had 14 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and also helped on the offensive line to lead Jim Hill to a 12-6 overtime victory over Forest Hill Friday night at Hughes Field in West Jackson.
For his outstanding performance, Ratliff was named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Football Player of the Week.
With Friday’s game, Ratliff has 71 tackles, 49 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in 10 games this season for Jim Hill.
Friday’s victory gave Jim Hill its second win, tying the team with the most wins since a 6-6 season in 2012. It was also the second win for the Tigers over Forest Hill since 2012.
Ratliff has offers from East Central Community College, Mississippi Delta CC and Southwest Mississippi CC.
“Kobi played with relentless effort all night,” Jim Hill coach Zack Grady said. “He was forcing turnovers and also blocking on offense. We ran behind him on the go ahead touchdown.”
Ratliff is the son of Tameka Ratliff and Reginald Southern. Tameka played volleyball and was in the choir at Jim Hill and graduated in 2002. Reginald played football for Provine and also attended Jim Hill. Ratliff’s sister, Taniyah Southern, was on the dance team at Jim Hill and graduated in 2022. Ratliff’s brother, Braylon Southern, plays baseball and is a senior at Lanier. Ratliff’s brother, Reginald Southern Jr., plays football, basketball, and baseball and is an eighth grader at Lanier. Ratliff’s cousin, Romárious Smith, plays wide receiver and is a junior at Jim Hill.
Jim Hill plays West Jones, 7-3-1 overall and 3-1 in region play, in a MHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 game at West Jones Thursday at 7 p.m.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a football player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by texting Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
WEEK ONE: Gage Crapps, East Rankin Academy
WEEK TWO: Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey, Lanier
WEEK THREE: Caleb Unger, MRA
WEEK FOUR: Samuel Stockett, MRA
WEEK FIVE: Waylan King, Callaway
WEEK SIX: Tripp Smith, Madison Central
WEEK SEVEN: Trevon Willis, Velma Jackson
WEEK EIGHT: King White, Germantown
WEEK NINE: Knolyn Bryce Archie Bailey, Lanier
WEEK TEN: Hayden Hunt, Tri-County Academy
