As Selma High begins another football season there’s one thing still on everyone’s mind from last year. A season opening loss to county rival Southside High School 22-16.

Selma High head coach Jerome Harper admits that they may have taken Southside lightly last year.

Selma High went on to finish the year with a mediocre record of 5-5. Harper really doesn’t know if the loss affected the rest of the season, but he knows things will be different this year.

Based on experience from last year, and the experience coming back this year, Selma High should have the upper hand in Friday nights season opener.

They return 15 starters from last year’s team, and have Jai Miller &045;&045; a top ranked recruit in the state. Selma High looks to take advantage of Miller’s outstanding speed this year in ways they haven’t before. Whether it be running the option or quarterback draws, Harper is being quiet on ways his team will exploit Miller’s speed.

Miller Has not been healthy for most of the early workouts. He suffered a bone bruise during summer basketball camps to his leg, and has been attending rehab sessions for the past few weeks. Harper thinks he will be at 100 percent for the Southside game.

Southside isn’t putting many rookies on the field either, especially at the quarterback position.

Along with Brown, Southside will return 11 starters on defense, and eight on offense. Thaurang Shank is one of the anchors of the Southside defense at outside linebacker. Jarvis Bates is a mainstay at offensive and defensive line playing the nose guard position.

Selma High goes into Friday night looking for revenge for last year’s loss. Southside comes in looking for respect, and the chance to prove that they were not a one-win wonder. Southside and Selma High meet Friday night at Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m.