FOREST – The Hazlehurst offense couldn’t capitalize on Forest’sTreshawn Mitchell. Mitchell, standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 165pounds, looked like a giant defender as he intercepted two Indianpasses and returned them for touchdowns as the Bearcats crushedHazlehurst 30-0 Friday night in the South State Class 3Asemifinals.

Forest’s defense forced five more turnovers in manhandling theIndians.. The Bearcats (13-0) will travel to Tylertown (11-2)Friday for a rematch of last year’s third-round game, a battle theChiefs won on their road to the state championship.

The Bearcats, in search of their fourth state championship, put ona display of defensive dominance for the partisan crowd, snapping aseven-game win streak by the Indians (11-3). It was their eighthshutout of the season. They have allowed just 42 points through 13games.

Forest got five sacks and forced seven turnovers – one fumble, fouron downs and those two pick-6s by Mitchell.

Mitchell’s first interception, a 60-yarder, came six seconds beforehalftime and gave Forest a 23-0 lead. His second went 65 yards.