The Selma Times-Journal

Lemuel Jones didn’t know what to expect from his new team Monday night.

Now, the new Southside High School head football coach knows his coaches and the number of players &045; 16 &045; that graduated last year. It’s a start.

The offense is patterned after the run-and-shoot &045; the same system he ran as head coach at Keith High School. The team will also implement a 5-2 defensive scheme.

The run-and-shoot offense, as the name implies, relies heavily on the passing game. Jones’s offenses have been known to throw 40-50 passes per game.

Jones found the right coach to direct his scheme. Former Keith High School quarterback, Anthony Lumpkin, is well versed in his system. He played quarterback under Jones from 1990-92.

Lumpkin has seen several Southside games the last two years. He saw an eager bunch of young, positive kids that want to win.

Matthew Williams is Southside’s new line coach. According to Jones, he works within the scheme and knows what to do.

However, plenty of work for the Southside staff before the team is game-ready. He and his players are still strangers. The number of returning starters is a mystery. The team nucleus is still under construction.

Jones and his staff must prepare quickly. Southside opens the season against its archrival, Selma High School.