After a 4-1 start, Selma’s contest with Demopolis last week looked like easy pickings on paper.

The Tigers entered the contest 1-5 and on the verge of their first losing season since 1991.

The only trouble with how a team looks on paper and how it looks on the field is that the latter actually makes a difference.

That’s part of the reason the Saints (4-2) suffered a 55-20 loss at the hands of the Tigers.

“I knew we had our hands full going into it,” said Selma coach Foster Davis. “We started with turnovers in our own territory and they made us pay. I think sometimes we hurt ourselves more than anybody else.”

This week, the Saints facer another team in danger of having its streak of playoff appearances snapped.

Chilton County (1-5) made the playoffs the last two years with records of 8-3 and 7-4. But the Tigers just earned their first win of the season in a 38-7 victory over Monroe County and are off to a sluggish 1-5 start this year.

“They got beat by pretty good teams,” said Davis. “The part of the schedule they have already passed through, we’re just getting to it.”

Despite the Tigers’ struggles, Davis sees a good team.

“You’re going to see them pick up some victories down the road,” said Davis. “They look pretty good offensively. I think it’s going to be a pretty good game. We’re pretty evenly matched.”

This will be the Saints’ second game at Memorial Stadium this season. It will also be their first official home game.

They played Southside at Memorial Stadium to open the season, but the Panthers were the designated home team.

“Glad to be home,” said Davis. “I don’t care who we’re playing. Just glad to be home.”

Davis believes the road warrior mentality has played a part in a lack of consistency and intensity in his team.

He gave his players Monday off in hopes it would reinvigorate them and get them ready for the looming stretch run.

“They’re not playing as good as they did the first part of the year,” said Davis. “They’ve gotten too passive. They need to get their aggression back.”

With a good finish, the Saints will earn their first playoff birth since 2005 in addition to their first winning season since 1994.

“If they want to get to the playoffs, it’s on them,” said Davis.

The Saints and Tigers kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday.

A $2 parking fee will be charged to all spectators. All proceeds will help fund Selma athletics programs.