By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

Many players and coaches from Selma High School and Keith High School are friends when they’re not playing football. For 48 minutes Friday, long-lasting friendships will take a seat on the bench.

The class 6A, region 4 Selma Saints (2-3, 0-3) face the class 1A, region 4 Keith Bears (1-3, 1-2) at Memorial Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. When these teams faced off in 2014, Selma dominated Keith 52-8. Keith head coach Harry Crum knows how much a win would mean.

“It would be a monumental upset, sort of like a David versus Goliath if we could pull that off,” said Keith head coach Harry Crum.

The first step to playing well for Selma is stopping Keith running back Domonique Jones. Jones ran through the Ellwood Christian defense last week, rumbling for 185 yards and four touchdowns.

Selma’s defense is no stranger to facing great running backs. Two weeks ago against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, the Saints’ defense held Hillcrest running back Brian Robinson to just 124 rushing yards a week after he ran for 447 yards against the then-No. 1 team in class 6A Clay-Chalkville.

Selma head coach Leroy Miles said that while Robinson is a powerful back, Jones uses more of his quickness to beat defenders.

“He runs the ball hard and he’s got great vision,” Miles said.

While Keith has one of the best players on the field Friday night, Crum still realizes beating Selma won’t be an easy task. Crum said Keith has only beaten Selma once, but Miles isn’t going to rest on his laurels just because history is on his side.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge,” Miles said. “I don’t care how you look at it, it’s going to be a tough challenge. We’re going to try to prepare for it and I feel like our kids will play well.”

Crum hopes his team can ride the momentum of a convincing win over Ellwood, but he knows Selma is a different beast entirely. As a class 1A school, Keith is always at a numbers disadvantage when it faces Selma.

Both coaches aren’t blind to the fact that the teams are more even than roster numbers indicate.

“With Keith that doesn’t matter, those guys are hard-nosed,” Miles said. “They play hard for Coach Crum and Coach Crum does a very good job of getting them ready for this game.”

Crum and Miles have been friends for many years, often spending their offseasons talking to each other about football. It doesn’t mean either is planning on taking the game lightly.

“On Friday nights, both of us want to come out with a W and we set friendship aside for 48 minutes, and then we’ll pick it up after the game,” Crum said.

Miles shared the same sentiment.

“For 48 minutes we won’t be friends,” Miles said. “For 48 minutes we won’t be friends and after the game is over, we’ll shake and we’ll hug each other.”

 

Dallas County (2-2, 2-1) vs. Bibb County (3-2, 3-0)

The class 5A, region 4 Dallas County Hornets host the class 4A, region 4 Bibb County Choctaws. The Hornets play their second straight home game after shutting out Sumter Central 20-0 last Friday. The game against Bibb County could be a tougher challenge.

The Choctaws have won three straight games and are coming off a 40-22 win against West Blocton. Bibb County will test Dallas County’s strong defense, as the Choctaws have scored 40 or more points in two of their last three contests.

 

Ellwood (3-1, 0-1) at Verbena (2-2, 1-2)

After getting off to its best start in school history, the class 1A, region 4 Ellwood Christian Eagles came back to earth in a 58-6 loss to Keith at Memorial Stadium last Friday. This week, the Eagles travel to take on the class 1A, region 3 Verbena Red Devils.

Verbena is also struggling after getting off to a strong start to the season. The Red Devils won their first two games, but haven’t won since. They too are coming off a big loss after falling to Billingsley 28-9 last Friday.

 

Morgan (1-3, 1-1) vs. Tuscaloosa (4-0, 0-0)

The AISA-AAA, region 2 Morgan Academy Senators fell 68-18 at home to AISA powerhouse Edgewood Academy last Friday. While this week’s game isn’t as daunting, the AISA-AAA, region 1 Tuscaloosa Academy Knights also come into the Senators’ stadium with an undefeated record.

The Knights are fresh off a 41-7 victory at Hooper Academy. Tuscaloosa hasn’t let up more than 18 points in any of its four games. Meanwhile, Morgan put up 18 points against an Edgewood team that hadn’t allowed any points to opponents in two straight games.

 

Meadowview Christian (3-1) at Cornerstone Christian (3-1)

The Meadowview Trojans take their three-game win streak on the road to Decatur, Alabama, as they face the Cornerstone Christian Cougars in 6-man football. Since the Cougars’ first home game was forfeited, Meadowview will be the first opponent Cornerstone will face at home.

Cornerstone won its first two games by a combined score of 68-13, but struggled in its last game. The Cougars fell to Clay County Christian last Friday 72-26. Conversely, the Trojans beat Clay County 32-21 on Sept. 4.

 

Southside (1-4, 0-3) at Wilcox Central (0-4, 0-3)

The class 4A, region 1 Southside Panthers have lost three straight road games, and this week they take on their fourth straight road opponent. This week is as good as any for Southside to turn its luck around, as the class 5A, region 4 Wilcox Central Jaguars are winless on the season.

The Jaguars have let up at least 28 points in each of their four losses. They are coming off a 48-34 loss to Central Tuscaloosa. Southside has surrendered over 30 points in each of its five games and is coming off a 58-6 loss at