ORRVILLE — Selma’s 20-8 victory over Keith in Friday night’s jamboree was more about the teams getting their feet wet than the final result, but it sure didn’t feel like it.

Both teams came prepared as if the game was a regular season matchup and for most of the contest, the result was in the balance.

The Saints rallied from an 8-7 halftime deficit to earn a momentum carrying victory heading into their showdown next with rival Southside.

“We had to go to some different things to get momentum in this game,” Selma head coach Leroy Miles said. “I am very proud of the way this group handled adversity in the first half. That’s the sign of a real good football team.”

With the Saints down at halftime, Selma set the second half tempo quickly with some big plays.

“The second half we were able to settle down a little bit and Cinque Cole had a big run,” Miles said. “They called it back but it kind of ignited the team and gave us a little bit of momentum. “

Cole’s run would have been a 75-yard touchdown run to begin the second half, but it was called back due to holding. On the next play, Saints quarterback Jesse Boggs rode the momentum from Cole’s run all the way to the endzone on a 66 yard scamper, giving Selma the lead for good.

Later on in the third quarter, Saints backup quarterback Kadarius Brown entered the game for Boggs — who left with a minor injury but later returned to the game — and rushed 15-yards for a touchdown to give Selma a 20-8 lead.

For Keith, the game was a story of two halves. Head coach Harry Cum gave his team high marks in the first half, but he wasn’t very thrilled about the performance in the latter half.

“We started out playing well. We took an 8-7 lead into the half and maybe we got a little bit complacent,” Crum said.

Selma led 7-0 after a Cole 20-yard touchdown run gave the Saints an early lead, but the Bears rallied before halftime. Keith quarterback Maurice Crumpton got into a rhythm, connecting with three different receivers on the drive, before finding Jareece Bryant in the endzone to put Keith on the scoreboard with under a minute to play in the first half. The duo hooked up again on the two-point conversion, which gave Keith its first and only lead of the ballgame at 8-7.

In the second half, depth seemed to become a factor.

“Our kids started out blocking really well at first, but I think when the fatigue set in we started missing some blocks and I think Selma knew it,” Crum said. “Defensively, we started missing a lot of tackles and Selma took advantage of that. That’s what a team is supposed to do.”

Keith managed only 18 offensive yards in the second half, with five sacks hindering any yardage the Bears did gain.  Overall, Selma outgained Keith 385 to 195. The Saints got great performances from Boggs, who had 183 total yards and a touchdown, and Cole, who rushed for 65 yards on eight carries.

The Bears offense centered around Crumpton, who ran 13 times for 47 yards. He was also 4 of 8 passing for 63 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Next week Keith will play Wilcox Central at home. Selma will take on Southside.