Saints defense sparks playoff win over Carroll

The Selma High Schools Saints’ highly touted offense provided just enough scoring punch as its defense shutout Carroll High School in a 22-6 win in Friday night’s first round of the AHSAA playoffs. 

Carroll’s lone score was an interception return by Karmelo Overton early in the fourth quarter. Junior linebacker Ken McMillian stood out in a defensive effort led by Kenterrius Carter, Kemari Eaton, Artimus Edwards, and Dylan Walker. 

The front controlled the line of scrimmage and the linebackers plugged the gaps, holding all-state candidate Brandon Robinson out of the endzone and well below his rushing average. 

McMillian turned in 13 tackles, four for losses, 3 sacks, and recovered a fumble. Ken Carter, Dakari Nelson, and Walker had 2 tackles for loss, with Carter and Nelson recording sacks, as well.

A Carroll interception put the visitors in good field position early in the first stanza and they quickly moved into Saint territory behind the running of Robinson, a 6-foot, 200-pound bruiser. Carter sacked Keyshawn Cole on third down and an intentional grounding infraction forced the Eagles to punt from their 30-yard line. 

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From midfield, Jevonte Stubbs and Sharod Martin shared carries that set the Saints up in the Carroll red zone. On second and 6 at the 15, Dion Nelson hit Stubbs on a quick slant, and he scored untouched with :40 left in the first period. Stubbs sprinted around right end for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead. 

Robinson had a big return to the Selma 46, but McMillian recovered a ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Cole fumble stopping the drive. On fourth and 8 from midfield, the Nelson to Nelson connection proved true again as Dion Nelson hit Dakari Nelson in the right flat and the sophomore receiver shook a defender and converted the play into a 23 yard gain. 

Three plays later the brother combo struck again as Dakari took a screen pass and turned in a spectacular run for a 32-yard touchdown. Stubbs converted the two-point play again and the Saints took a 16-0 lead. Carroll countered with a quarterback run by freshman standout Cole who faked to Robinson and went 56 yards to the Saint four-yard line. The Saint defense bowed its neck as senior safety Kel Carter and McMillian stuffed Robinson on successive plays. On fourth and goal at the six, senior cornerback Jimmy Brown nearly intercepted a pass attempt, and the Saints held. Carroll’s ensuing drive saw McMillian pick up two and a half sacks and senior linebacker Ken Carter add another, as Selma took momentum into halftime.  

The third quarter saw defensive adjustments by both teams as neither offense was able to gain a rhythm and sustain drives. Kyssac Jones had two tackles for losses and Edwards added another during this stand. As the fourth quarter began the Saints appeared poised to put the Eagles away as Stubbs’ 31-yard punt return put Selma at the Carroll 44-yard line. But on second and 6, Overton, a 6’ 3” sophomore safety read the play Nelson had burned him on earlier, stepped in front of the receiver, intercepted the pass and returned it 60 yards to put Carroll on the scoreboard. Walker and Ken Carter stopped Robinson short on the conversion attempt. The Saints seized control of the game on the next possession as Nelson found Stubbs on a 45-yard bomb down the right sideline to the Eagle 12-yard line. From there, Stubbs went to quarterback, followed his blockers, found a crease, and dove the final three yards just inside the pylon for a touchdown. He was sacked on the conversion play and Selma lead 22-6 with 8:06 remaining. From there Head Coach Will Gandy turned the game over to his defense and ground game as the Saints won their second playoff game in school history. 

Selma improved to 7-3 and take to the road next week to face top-ranked Saint Paul High School in Mobile Friday Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.