The 2015 youth football season kicked off Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium with the introduction of all 26 teams participating in this season’s Selma Parks and Recreation Department League.

Hundreds of players took the field, wearing their full uniform for the first time this season.

Many of the players participated in their first ever football game Saturday, but it was hard to tell whether the players, parents or coaches had more butterflies.

After introductions were completed, ten games were played Saturday at the stadium.

In the opening game of the year, the Jr. Dolphins defeated the Jr. Rams 22-8 behind two touchdowns from Omari Smith.

“I’m excited. I love it,” said Koesha Beans, Smith’s mother, about watching her son play. “He said he was going to make me some money [one day].”

Many parents said their child was the first person up Saturday morning because they were so ready to play their first game.

Kimberly Broadnax said her son Cedrick Simmons got up at 3 a.m. and she had to tell him to go back to bed.

Simmons was having a special day Saturday. Not only was it his first ever football game, but he was also celebrating his seventh birthday.

“He doesn’t know anything about a party, but he’s got it coming,” Broadnax said.

Opening day was the culmination of a lot of hard work by those at the recreation department, with football director Terry Jackson leading the effort.

After having 20 teams last year — the most in Jackson’s tenure over the football program — the league added six more teams this year.

“It’s growing and growing each year. I’m excited to see so many kids that love to play football and want to play football,” Jackson said.

The league’s expansion is due to the addition of more teams in Marion and Orrville this season, Jackson said.

The youth football regular season is scheduled to end Nov. 12 and the playoffs will begin shortly after.