The Selma High Saints should be fully rested, and roaring to go after having a week off to prepare for their homecoming game Friday night against Sidney Lanier.

The Saints have had an up-down season from day one, but they are still in the thick of things as far as the playoffs are concerned.

The Saints opened the year with the Southside Panthers, and they barely escaped Memorial Stadium with the victory. They then went to Prattville to

play the Lions, and were defeated 35-8. The same thing happened two weeks later when the Saints went up against Central Phenix, and lost big 54-12. Then Carver came to Selma and the Saints pulled out another slim victory winning 14-13 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. That’s the way things have rolled for the Saints this year, either they have won by a small margin or they were beat soundly.

Sidney Lanier’s year has been much the same way. The Poets opened the season with Wilcox Central and blew them out 42-14, exacting

some revenge for the loss the year before to Wilcox. After their

opening game, Sidney Lanier went on a three-game skid, losing to Vigor (33-14), Jeff Davis (38-6), and Lee (24-12). The Poets finally picked up their second win of the year last Friday night against Dothan 34-28.

The similarities between these teams are evident, but the big question is which team will step up and use this game for a starting point to turn their season around.

Selma High has all the tools to be a standout team. They have a quarterback that is one of the most highly sought after recruits in the state of Alabama in Jai Miller. They have an outstanding running back in Shedrick Effinger, not to mention that their offense and defense has a lot of depth and experience. It is just going to take something to gel this team, and make them come together and play the way they are capable of.

Both the Saints and the Poets are coming off wins and, with both teams having a little bit of momentum, this should be an outstanding game. This one is just too close to call at this point. The Saints are coming off a bye week, and have had more time to heal, and prepare for the game though, and that might give them a little bit of an edge.

Selma High takes on the Sidney Lanier Poets Friday night at Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m.