Soggy field not enough to slow Saints

Published 12:00 am Sunday, August 22, 2004

It wasn’t perfect. Heck, it wasn’t even pretty, but Woodrow Lowe Jr. and his Saints kicked of the season with a 33-0 jamboree win Friday night in a soggy Memorial Stadium.

Facing an overmatched 2A Keith Bears squad, the Selma High Saints used a potent running game to pound their way to the end zone.

Still, it wasn’t all three yards and a pound of mud.

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Quarterback Quin Pernell got to test his arm a little, airing the ball out for a nice gain as well.

“We came out of the game without any injuries and some things we need to correct on,” Lowe said. “These guys deserve that winning feeling, although it’s an exhibition, they still leave the game with some confidence.”

After fumbling the ball away on their first drive, Keith came out in the second quarter and, using the wing-T formation, managed to convert some first downs with a trap up the middle, using Ira Jackson to hammer the Saints’ front.

However, the Saints defense bowed their backs and killed the drive.

It was the best Keith looked all night.

“We just kind of faded at the end,” Keith coach Harry Crum said. “I think we’ll be all right.

I wanted to play against a team where we would definitely have to step it up.

I knew that Selma High, being 6A, would definitely be a challenge.”

Sophomore running back Teddrick Cleveland led the ground attack for the Saints.

He carried, unofficially, eight times for 111 yards and touchdown.

Stephen Woods had 50 yards and a touchdown on four carries.

Pernell had a touchdown run of a yard and freshman Rakeem Harris took a sweep around the left end in the fourth quarter for an 18-yard touchdown run.

Pernell was 4-of-7 for 69 yards, including a pretty lob to Woods at the 1-yard line. The play went 35 yards and set up the QB’s 1-yard sneak.

With the win, the Saints prepare to open the season next week in Memorial Stadium against Southside.

Lowe said Friday night’s jamboree was good preparation.

‘We get to see our mistakes and correct them on film,” Lowe said. “We’ll move forward, that’s all we need to do.”

With the exception of that second drive, the Saints dominated on defense. Linebacker Donald Steele flew to the ball well and Carlous Mack, Conner Childers and Curtis King made some big plays.

Keith’s best chance to score came in that second drive when another offensive player for the Bears scooped up a fumbled handoff. As the defense swarmed the man they though had the ball, the Bear runner slipped past.

However, the refs were fooled as well and the play was blown dead.

Ira Jackson had some strong runs for Keith, finishing with 20 yards. Jonathan George also carried a sweep for a first down. Quarterback Deonte Milhouse showed some of his athleticism, but was under pressure for most of the night.

Still, despite the loss, the Bears fought hard for most of the night.

“Coach Crum does an excellent job,” Lowe said.