Selma Saints end playoff run with fall to St. Paul’s Friday night

The Selma High School Saints football team fell 44-0 on the road to Saint Paul’s Episcopal School in an Alabama High School Athletic Association’s second round playoff game Friday night. 

Early turnovers proved to be the undoing of the Selma Saints as the Class 5-A second-ranked Saints from Mobile scored on an interception return on the third play of the game and recovered a fumble on Selma’s 2-yard line that converted to a touchdown two possessions later. 

St. Paul’s used big plays by Javonte Graves-Billips and T. J. McPherson to extend their lead to 27-0 early in the second period. 

Senior standout Jevonte Stubbs left the game shortly thereafter with a thumb and lower leg injury which eventually took Selma out of its game plan. The dual-threat star made big plays in the run and pass game before ending his stellar career before halftime. 

Graves-Billips scored on a 35-yard screen pass and a 32-yard draw play that sealed the visiting Saints’ fate. Selma only allowed a field goal in the second half and fought hard to the bitter end. Selma finishes a successful campaign at 7-4, making the playoffs in consecutive seasons and advancing to the second round for the second time in school history.