By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

After a tough loss last Friday night against cross-county foe Keith, the Southside High School Panthers football team will hit the road again Friday in search of victory.

The Panthers (0-5, 0-3) will head to Jemison to play the Jemison Panthers (4-1, 2-1) Friday at 7 p.m. in a region contest.

Southside head football coach Bertrum Crum said his team isn’t quite where he’d pictured it would be entering Friday’s game, but there are some positives.

“Naturally, in terms of wins and losses, we’re not where I envisioned us being,” Crum said. “As far as character as it relates to the attitude of our boys, I think we’re right on track.”

Crum said Jemison is a very dangerous team that will pose a tough challenge for Southside.

“They’re very explosive from what I’ve seen of them on film,” Crum said. “They’ve got a lot of athletes at the skill positions. They’re very talented.”

Crum said he’s been focusing on getting his team to finish games.

Last week, Southside was tied 7-7 with Keith at the half before losing the game 37-7.

“We’re just making sure we do the little things and finish the game,” Crum said. “If we ever put a full game together I think we’ll be okay, but we play a quarter or a half usually. Hopefully, we can put a full game together. I’ve told them that nobody owes us anything. We’ve got to stop playing with that mentality and understand how important it is for us to play hard until the finish. I think they get it now after the Keith game.”

In order to be successful and have a chance to win Friday, Crum said his team will have to be efficient on offense.

“I think we have to control the ball and the tempo of the game, and keep their offense on the sideline as much as possible,” Crum said.