Saints crush Hornets in jamboree tuneup

Published 1:45 am Saturday, August 25, 2018

Selma High has high expectations for its offense this season.

Running backs Nick Parnell and Amarian Molette each ran for 100-yards as the Saints pounded Dallas County High School 40-12 in a jamboree on Friday night at Martin Field.

Quarterback Tyreshon Freeman threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to lead the Saints. The Saints are without head coach Christopher Raymond, who’s recovering from back surgery. De’Andre Wilson is the Saints’ assistant head coach.

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Parnell finished with 105-yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Molette had 100-yards and a TD on 10 carries.

“Molette gained 1,000-yards rushing last year and we expect that from him,’’ Wilson said. “Nick has gotten stronger working out in the weight room and it paid off tonight.”

Parnell credited the off-season for the success against Dallas County.

“We put in the work at practice and hard work pays off,” Parnell said. “We’ve been thinking about our head coach.

The Hornets jumped out to a 6-0 lead on running back Anthony Reubin’s 5-yard touchdown run.

Selma tied the game at 6-6 after one quarter on Parnell’s 5-yard run.

The Saints outscored the Hornets 14-0 in the second quarter to grab a 20-6 halftime lead.

Parnell scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and also ran in the two-point conversion. Freeman threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Wade on fourth-and-25.

Selma scored its final three touchdowns in the third quarter to lead 40-6.

Freeman scored on a 22-yard touchdown run. Linebacker Joshua Grimmes returned a fumble 5-yards for another score. Molette’s 58-yard touchdown run closed the Saints’ scoring.

Backup quarterback Patrick Callens scored the Hornets’ other touchdown on a 5-yard run late in the game.

“Selma has a good team,” Hornets coach Zeke Pigg said. “They hit us in the mouth and we didn’t like it. I saw a lot of positives. We were able to build depth.”

Dallas County suffered a blow late in the third quarter when starting quarterback Octavious Palmer was knocked from the game. Palmer was taken to the hospital via ambulance to undergo further evaluation.

Both teams travel in their season openers on Aug. 31. Selma opens at Southside. Dallas County goes to McAdory.