By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

When the Jets’ Marquavious Pullom took the first play of the game around the right end for 74 yards, it looked like the 49ers might be in trouble. As the 49ers had done many times this season, they buckled down on defense and shut out their opponent.

The 49ers intercepted three passes on their way to a 22-0 victory over the Jets in the Selma youth football 11- and 12-year-old championship at Memorial Stadium Monday. 49ers head coach Alvin Barnett said strong defense has been key to their 9-0 season.

“We play defense first,” Barnett said. “We don’t worry about scoring. Our job is to stop them from scoring.”

That’s exactly what the 49ers did on the Jets’ first drive. The Jets took a shot to the end zone on fourth down after Pullom’s long run, and Derryl Holmes intercepted his first of two passes.

With the game still scoreless and the Jets driving again right before halftime, Holmes picked off another pass to leave the game tied at halftime.

In the third quarter, Ghvon Furlow scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Markeice Stallworth Jr. carried in the two-point conversion.

Furlow scored another touchdown in the fourth quarter, when he ran the ball 19 yards for a score. Barnett said he had full confidence in his quarterback that he would finish off the drive with a touchdown.

“The last down, we told him ‘just go on the field, you read the defense. Whatever you see, that’s what you take.’ And that’s what he took,” Barnett said.

The 49ers recorded their third interception late in the game to set up a 77-yard touchdown run from Jeremiah McMillan to seal the championship.

“We had it, but there’s just a couple mistakes that the coaches made,” said Jets head coach Terry Ward.

Barnett said the two first-half interceptions from Holmes helped set the tone for the rest of the game. Holmes also had some big runs on offense, contributing on both sides of the ball like he’s done all season.

“He’s meant a lot on both offense and defense,” Barnett said.

“He’s a wonderful kid. We’re going to lose him next year and we hate to see him go.”

While Ward felt like the Jets were prepared to win the game, he was proud of his players for a successful season. No one was prouder than Barnett, who said his team executed in the big moment exactly like he wanted.

“I’m very proud. To go out undefeated, to fight through all the adversity, the weather and everything and to do everything they can, now here it is. We came out, we played our game and we got the win,” Barnett said.