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The Selma High School football team back at work preparing for the 2025 season under new head coach Marcus Gardner.

Last week, the Saints began spring practice, and Gardner said they have between 55 and 60 players who have come out for football.

“We’ve had really good numbers this spring,” Gardner said. “Overall, I have been pleased with how things have gone so far..”

Gardner said this year’s team features a good mix of veterans with some younger talented guys.

“I’ve really been impressed with our young guys who have stepped up this spring,” Gardner said. “We also have a lot of good veteran players out there too. I’ve seen really good leadership out here from the freshmen all the way up to the incoming seniors.”

The coaching staff has spread out their spring practices over four weeks. They have had Monday and Wednesday practices for the past two weeks with weight room days on Tuesday and Thursday.

Monday’s practice will be a full scrimmage at Memorial Stadium at 5 p.m. They will have another practice on Wednesday before they go into full game preparation for their spring jamboree at Marbury on Friday, May 23.

Gardner said they haven’t determined whether it will be a full game of varsity football or if it will be split between varsity, JV and junior high.

“I’d prefer to play maybe three quarters of varsity with the final quarter being junior high,” Gardner said. “We really haven’t discussed what that will look like yet, but it’s great to get an opportunity to play a spring game.”

Details regarding tickets have not yet been released. Those will likely be announced on the school’s social media channels at a later date.

Selma’s football schedule is the same as last year’s. Instead of opening at home, however, the Saints will travel to Park Crossing to open the season on Aug. 22. The home opener is the annual rivalry game with Southside on Aug. 29.

Jemison then comes to Memorial Stadium on Sept. 5. Then the Saints will be on the road for Northside (Sept. 12), Demopolis (Sept. 19) and Fairfield (Sept. 26).

Montevallo will then come to Selma on Oct. 3 followed by a road game at Shelby County on Oct. 17. The final game on the schedule is a home game with Sipsey Valley on Oct. 24.

Because they have only nine games scheduled, Gardner said they are working on trying to schedule a 10th game. Only four of the scheduled games are at home.