By Blake Deshazo
The Selma Times-Journal

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa looked every bit like the top ranked team in 6A on Friday night. The Patriots dominated the first half scoring 53 points on their way to a 59-14 victory over class 6A, region 4 foe Selma.

“I think it would be hard to argue against that,” said Hillcrest head coach Sam Adams. “At times we did some good things. It was a sloppy game, but we got to get a lot of kids in at the end and let them get some action.”

Hillcrest took an early 2-0 lead after a high snap went over Selma quarterback Tyreshon Freeman’s head and out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Hillcrest scored two plays later on a 33-yard touchdown run from Jahi Brown to make it 9-0 with 9:27 left in the first quarter.

After forcing Selma to punt, Hillcrest added another touchdown to the board. Cole Frederick found Brown from 26 yards out to take a 16-0 lead.

The Patriots scored their second safety of the night when Amarian Mollette had a bad snap go over his head to make it 18-0. This was the fourth safety Selma has given up in their last two games.

“We’re in the rebuilding process, and when you’re in the rebuilding process you’re going to have nights like this,” said Selma head coach Keon Handley. “Physically, we were outmatched.”

Hillcrest added to its lead when Torin Mayhew ran in a touchdown from six yards out, giving the Patriots a 25-0 lead.

The Patriots took a 32-0 lead when Frederick found Mayhew from 22 yards out early in the second quarter.

After two holding calls backed Hillcrest up, the Patriots were able to get themselves out of a hole and add seven more points on the board when Frederick found Corey Owens in the back of the end zone to make it 39-0.

Brown added his third score of the night from six yards out making the lead 46-0 Patriots.

Frederick hit Terry Beverly from 33 yards out for Hillcrest’s last score of the first half.

Selma’s Jonathan Pressly wouldn’t let the Saints go scoreless on the night.

He returned the Patriots kickoff 80 yards to make it 53-8.

Nassir Boyd scored the final touchdown of the night for Hillcrest on their first drive of the third quarter to make it 59-8.

Two fumble recoveries gave Selma opportunities to cut into the Hillcrest lead late in the game.

But the Saints only capitalized on one with a four-yard touchdown pass from Freeman to Kordez Ervin, making it 59-14.

The loss makes Selma (1-8) winless in region play, while Hillcrest (9-0) went undefeated. Hillcrest will play Thompson to end the season, and Selma will host Stanhope Elmore.