The football season is only two weeks old, but Selma and Dallas County have already seen their fair share of losses and heartbreaks. 

The Saints (0-2) lost its opener to rival Southside on a touchdown in overtime and Dallas County (0-2) lost to Calera last week on a 40-yard field goal as time expired.

Both have also been on the wrong side of a lopsided score.

The Hornets were blown out 33-7 by McAdory in their opener, while Selma lost to Bessemer City 43-0 last week.

“Both ballclubs are trying to find a way to get a W since we are both 0-2,” said Dallas County coach Marty Smith.

Smith said his team has plenty of motivation this week as Selma and Dallas County prepare to renew their rivalry Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Not only do the Hornets want to avoid an 0-3 start, but they also want to end a losing streak to Selma that dates back to 1929.  The schools have not played regularly over the last centuary and had a big gap from the 1930s to the 2000s where they only played once, but Selma has dominated the series overall.

Smith said it’s time for Dallas County to make the game a rivalry again.

“At some point in time for this to be a rivalry again, we have to win one,” Smith said. “It’s been 87 years, so to put it in perspective someone 92 years or older is the only person walking the face of this earth that remembers Dallas County beating Selma.”

Selma won meetings in 2014 and 2015. Last year’s game lasted two days due to thunderstorms, but the Saints won 13-6.

In that game, both teams tried to control the line of scrimmage with power-run offenses, but that won’t be the case this year. While Dallas County will try to slow the pace, control the clock and run right at the Saints, Selma wants to run 90 offensive plays or more.

“We are trying to score as fast as possible and put as many points on the board as possible to make them come out of their element,” said Selma head coach Keon Handley.

It’s been a struggle for Selma offensively this season. The Saints have scored only two offensive touchdowns and have scored only 18 points in two games. Handley said the team has made a lot of changes this week in an effort to jumpstart the team’s spread attack.

“We’ve kind of shaken some things up. We’re going to move some people around offensively,” Handley said.

 

“Hopefully, I have some of my horses back that have been out the last couple of weeks.  Even with them being young guys, they are going to make a heck of a difference in our game plan hopefully.”

 

Keith (1-2) at Billingsley (0-1)

Last week versus Aliceville, Keith couldn’t keep up in a 48-8 loss. The defeat put the Bears at 0-1 in class 2A, region 4 and in need of a bounceback victory to get their season headed in the right direction.

This week they’ll take on Billingsley, a team still looking for its first win of the season after two bye weeks to begin the year.

Billingsley lost 48-26 to Jemison last week in its opener.

 

Morgan Academy (2-1) at 

Monroe Academy (2-1)

Another week, another top 10 opponent for the Morgan Academy Senators. Morgan will play at No. 3 Monroe Academy Friday night in a key game in region 2.

The Volunteers will be the third ranked team Morgan has played this season in four weeks. The Senators defeated Edgewood Academy (0-3) and lost to Marengo Academy (1-1) in their other top 10 games.

Monroe defeated Marengo 28-14 last week. The Volunteers’ loss came to No. 1 ranked Bessemer Academy in their opener.

 

Southside (2-0) at Beulah (0-2)

Southside has already matched its win total from the 2015 season.

Now, the Panthers are setting their sights on bigger goals — like winning class 3A, region 3 and getting back into the playoffs.

The team can take another big step Friday against Beulah in their second consecutive region game.

The Panthers are currently the only undefeated team in region 3.

Southside has defeated Prattville Christian and Selma in the first two weeks, although both of those wins were by only one score.

Beluah has scored only 18 total points this year. The Bobcats have lost games to Spring Garden and Montgomery Academy.

 

Ellwood Christian (1-2) at

 Loachapoka (1-2)

Although their records are the same, Ellwood Christian and Loachapoka couldn’t be coming into Friday’s game on more different paths.

Loachapoka defeated Autaugaville 82-44 last week in the eighth highest scoring game in Alabama High School Athletic Association history.

Ellwood lost to Highland Home 57-12 last week.

 

Meadowview Christian (0-2) at 

chilton Christian (0-2)

Meadowview Christian should go into Friday night’s game with Chilton Christian well-rested. The Trojans had a bye last week, giving them a couple of extra weeks to get ready for Chilton.

Chilton has lost its first two games in blowout fashion.

The Patriots lost to Cahawba Christian 62-6 and Marion Academy 53-19.

Meadowview lost 34-0 to Victory Christian in an 8-man game and 53-20 to Clay County in a 6-man contest.

The game will start at 5 p.m. so that it can be completed before darkness.