The ending of Selma High School’s Friday night football game versus Jemison has left a bad taste with Saints fans.
Togo Coles, an alum, wrote on Facebook referencing that the game (with playoff implications) should be brought back on Tuesday or Wednesday to the last 13 seconds, “…OFFICIALLY we are still in timeout.” Before that, he wrote a much longer comment that analyzed what he personally saw happen. Cedric Pearl, also an alum and college football coach, agreed “totally.”
So, let’s put this in reverse and head to the game!
First touchdown of the evening in the first quarter belonged to Jemison High School. They struggled at the goal line, but they made it and missed the two-point conversion, making the score 6-0.
On the other end, the Saints struggled for a while and had to punt. Still 6-0.
Jemison got tackled but still made a second down. Then touchdown Jemison! The kick is blocked by the Saints. 12-0.
No. 1 Samarrion “Scooter” Woods, quarterback of the Selma Saints, brought the magic with his “rocket arm” (as the commentator called it). It would be his passing game that helped to land touchdowns for the rest of the evening. His arm threw 5-yard, 60-yard and 60-plus yard passes. The crowd went wild.
Scooter connected first with #21 Robert Lytle. Touchdown Saints! 66 yards into the end zone Lytle goes. 12-6. Saints fumble on the two-point conversion.
Moving along. Saints tackle on the play. Flag! End of first 12-6.
At second, Jemison headed toward the TD. Big STOP for the Saints!
Saints are now in motion. Scooter got in position but decided to run it this time. 30-, 40-, 50-yard run — but in comes the flag. No worries, it seemed. No. 5 Jordan Glover produces almost a replica run for the Saints. Jemison gets the flag this time.
Scooter Woods gets it close to the goal line with 70 yards. Along comes #84 for the Saints. Touchdown Selma! Bakari Norfleet runs it in off 27 yards from Scooter’s pass! 12-12. Tie game. And the two is good! No. 2 Kristan “Megatron” Moore effortlessly runs it in and Selma High is in the lead for the first time of the evening at 14-12.
Jemison comes out running. Impressive tackle by the Saints by #0 Cairen Curtis.
The long arm of Scooter Woods is back in play and it is perfect - so perfect that Jemison creates a flag—pass interference on Jemison. Automatic first down for the Saints.
Scooter keeps his eye on the prize and finds his open teammate. It’s Jordan Glover for the TD and the Saints stand up in applause! The two is no good.
The Saints head into the locker room ahead at halftime. 20-12. The cheer squads, dance team and bands did a great job at keeping both schools entertained.
Showtime. Jemison comes out the locker room with a long touchdown! The two is good. Tie game. It’s 20-20.
Saints lose the ball and Jemison takes the lead with 27-20. Their kick is good.
At the beginning of fourth. Touchdown Jemison — out the gate! 34-20. The kick is good.
Back in the game. Here comes Scooter Woods and that arm, but it’s easy. 20 yards to Cairen was all he needed to find. He spotted him and landed it right in his hands. Touchdown Selma! #0 Cairen Curtis runs that skin right on in! The two is good! Kristian “Megatron” Moore does it again! He glided right through the Jemison thick!
Back and forth between the teams. Jemison has possession but Saints rise to the occasion and create a turnover! Whew. The clock is ticking, but who is on it? Time is adjusted. The ball is still with the Saints and they have opportunity to go for the TD early…or not. It’s up to the coaches.
No one wants overtime: it’s too hot. 34-28. Woods looks for a man in the end zone, but that pass is broken by Jemison. 1:16 on the clock. Saints are mere yards away from a tie or a win. First down. 17 seconds.
First down and goal. Woods looks for the scramble. Fumble on the play but who recovered? It appears the referee is stopping time by waving his hands. There is a wait on the call, but the clock is still running. No one is moving. No call from the refs yet. Still no call yet. Clock is still running, though. Whoever is operating the timepiece finally stops it at 3 seconds. The commentator announces, “Waiting on the call on the field.” Before the call, the clock commences to run again. Confusion erupts across the stadium as the refs, the players, the coaches and the fans watch the time run out on what was seen to be a “wait on the call.”
The playback from this game, which is circulating around social media, will surely be at the top of the list of controversial play.
The Saints go down but not without a very impressive fight from every player that touched the field, to the very impressive coverage the players gave to its quarterback, to their teammates that cheered them on from the sidelines (videos paint the picture). Final score: 34-28.
Selma High School ended the night with a congratulatory handshake to Jemison High School in Chilton County. Their next game is away on Friday against Northside, an area game.
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