For the first time in 87 years, Dallas County has beaten Selma in football.

The Hornets (1-2) ran back two Selma (0-3) interceptions for touchdowns in the second half and overcame numerous injuries to beat the Saints 34-18 Friday at Memorial Stadium. It was their first win over Selma since 1929, although the schools have never played regularly.  This is the third straight year the teams have played after the rivalry was renewed in 2014.

“It means a lot for the community and it means a lot for the people in Dallas County, but it really truly means a lot for the old folks who come to our games night in and night out to support us,” said Dallas County coach Marty Smith. “I’m proud for them because somebody that … is 92 years and older are the only people that remembers Dallas County beating Selma.”

The Hornets ended up playing three quarterbacks, including placing starter Hunter Skinner at tight end most of the night. Dallas County was without two starting lineman before the game and when another went down, the Hornets had to change up the whole offense.

“We had a lot of adversity tonight,” Smith said. “We had a lot of players both offensively and on defense who had to play out of positions.”

That meant moving Skinner to the line and putting freshman Octavious Palmer under center. The offense moved the ball consistently most of the night, regardless of who was under center.

However, it was Dallas County’s defense that made the game’s biggest plays.

Leading 13-6 in the third quarter, Selma had marched the ball to the Dallas County 10 yard line and appeared poised to even up the score.

On the next play, Selma quarterback Tyreshon Freeman was intercepted by Kendrick Howard, who weaved his way through defenders for a 95-yard touchdown.

Two series later, Derrion Atchison intercepted Freeman inside the Saints own 10-yard line and walked into the end zone for a much easier score to put the Hornets up 25-12 with 10:11 left to play.

“He’s going to have growing pains and I’m going to continue let him play and continue to let him grow,” said Selma coach Keon Handley of Freeman.

The Saints started Freeman, a freshman, for the first time this year. Friday night was the first night Selma freshmen had been able to play, due to a computing error that had kept freshman from being eligible.

“We got stagnant offensively and that’s my fault for not pushing the tempo. As we saw, the faster we go the better we play,” Handley said.

It wasn’t a banner night for either offense.

Selma’s Jonathan Pressley scored on a 65-yard touchdown run on the game’s first play, giving a Saints’ offense that had only scored two times this season a little bit of life.

Dallas County tied the score 6-6 with a 62-yard drive. Calvin Starks capped the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, one of two he had on the night.

After a Saints’ punt, the Hornets got right back in the end zone. Palmer threw to Starks for a 64-yard completion, putting the Hornets at the Selma 8-yard line. Two plays later, Palmer ran a bootleg for a 5-yard touchdown to put Dallas County up 13-6.

Neither team scored in the second quarter.

Following Howard’s interception, Selma answered right back. Freeman threw a 30-yard touchdown to Charles Black, pulling the Saints within 19-12 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

After a Hornets’ punt, Atchison’s interception put Dallas County up 25-12.  One final drive for Dallas Countym Starks put the final touches on the Hornets’ first victory of the year.

Dallas County marched 57 yards and was aided by three offside penalties on Selma on the drive. Starks scored on a 4-yard run to make it 33-12 with 2:59 left. Kordez Ervin connected with Freeman for a 45-yard pass on Selma’s next drive, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ervin. The score pulled the Saints within 34-18, but Dallas County recovered the ensuing onside kick.

The Hornets will play at Sumter Central next week while Selma will play at Paul Bryant.