The annual Selma-Southside rivalry game will take place Friday night at Memorial Stadium and with every other local school on the road, the stage is set for a big crowd. 

Not that the game needed any more attention.

Although it doesn’t factor into region play, the game is always one of the most talked about in the Selma area each year. Southside head coach Daniel Flowers will coach in his fourth game between the schools this week, but he’s stopped referring to it as a rivalry.

He said Southside has to win before the “r” word can be used again. The Panthers have dropped 11 straight games to Selma, including last season’s 35-26 defeat.

“I think last year was the first time the game has been competitive since I’ve been here,” Flowers said. “My goal in this game is to be competitive. If we can be competitive, we can eventually beat them, but it’s not a rivalry unless we win. Until we start winning, it’s not a rivalry.”

There is some hope for Panthers fans though. Last year’s nine-point margin of victory was the lowest in the series since 2007, when Selma won an 8-6 game.

Also, for the first time since he’s been at Southside, Flowers is the veteran coach in the game.

“When I first got here, I didn’t know what to expect with the whole atmosphere of the game,” Flowers said. “I know how to handle it now.”

On the other sideline is Selma head coach Keon Handley, who will be leading the Saints for the first time Friday night. The game will be Handley’s first as a head coach.

“The Southside game is just the start of the process paying off. We take it as we have a faceless opponent every week,” Handley said. “We give our opponents that respect, but we can’t worry about who they are, the names on their team. We just have to earn it one rep at a one time, one play at a time.”

Early in last year’s game, it was Selma that made uncharacteristic mistakes. The Saints fumbled three times and trailed 12-0 in the first quarter before rallying.

Handley said the Saints aren’t getting caught up in the hype for the game this year.

“The bottom line is I told my guys if you can’t control your emotions, you won’t be on the field,” Handley said.

The momentum shifted last season on a punt that Southside fumbled inside its own 20-yard line. Selma scored to get within five, scored again quickly and led the rest of the way. Flowers said special teams and tackling have been points of emphasis this year.

The Panthers played last week, losing in a two-quarter jamboree to Dallas County 20-8. Selma did not play.

 

No. 10 Morgan Academy (1-0) at No. 7 Marengo

Last week, Morgan Academy dominated Edgewood Academy 46-0 to end the nation’s longest 11-man football win streak.  The win moved Morgan Academy into the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings at No. 10.

This week the Senators will try to keep the momentum going against No. 7 Marengo Academy, who has played in three straight state championship games.

“They’ve got to understand you’ve got to take it one day at a time, one week at a time,” said Morgan coach Josh Thacker following last week’s win. “Everybody is giving Edgewood all this credit and rightfully so … but you’ve got Marengo over here that is coming off three straight state championship appearances.”

Morgan and Marengo have not played since 2009. Marengo won that meeting 27-7.

 

Dallas County (0-0) at McAdory (0-1)

Dallas County opened its season last week with a good showing against Southside in a jamboree contest. The Hornets won that jamboree 20-8, although it doesn’t mean a thing on their final record.

This week is a step up in competition against a hungry McAdory team. The Yellow Jackets lost to Pinson Valley 15-8 in their opener.

 

Ellwood Christian (0-1) at Francis Marion (0-1)

Both Ellwood Christian and Francis Marion would probably like to hit the “redo” button on their season after losses last week.

Ellwood lost at Wilcox Central 32-6 and Marion lost to Greene County 26-0. The good news is that one of these two teams will win their first game of the year this week.

Ellwood won last season’s meeting in Selma 14-8.

 

Meadowview Christian (0-1) at Clay County (1-0)

The season couldn’t have started any different for Meadowview Christian and Clay County Christian. The Trojans lost to Victory Christian 34-0 in an 8-man game.

Clay County defeated Marion Academy 60-24.

This week the Trojans return to 6-man football and hope for better results from their offense.

 

Keith (0-1) at Calhoun (0-1)

Keith and Calhoun enter week two looking to build positive momentum to carry through the rest of the season.

The Bears lost to Winterboro 28-14 in a penalty filled game in week one, while Calhoun lost 48-8 to Flomaton.

Keith has won the last five  meetings between the schools, including a 40-6 victory in 2011.