Selma High School came back from 20 points down Thursday against Stanhope Elmore but couldn’t hold on for the win, losing a close 42-36 contest. The Saints had several quick scores, including two kickoff returns for scores as well as a fumble recovery for another, while the Mustangs moved the ball methodically on the ground.

The visitors’ last drive ate up half of the fourth quarter, preventing Selma from having enough time for a second comeback. The home team scored first off a pass from Tyreshon Freeman to Kordez Ervin to go up 6-0. Elmore answered with a long drive in which the Mustangs ran the ball 11 times before Travarasia Duncan scored on a 3-yard dash.

It didn’t take Selma long to answer though. The Saints returned the ensuing kickoff back for a score. A successful 2-point play by Freeman gave Selma a 14-6 lead. The teams traded punts before Stanhope Elmore scored again off a 4-yard reception by Kadin Anderson.

The team missed the PAT and Selma clung to a 14-12 lead about midway through the second quarter. Selma had to punt on its next possession, and the Mustangs put together another long drive, capped by a 8-yard TD run from Duncan, his second of the night, with 57 seconds left before the break. Freeman was picked off by Kerenski McGhee to end the half.

Selma attempted an onside kick to start the second half. Stanhope Elmore recovered and took advantage of the good field position, scoring off an 11-yard run by Quandaries Daniels.

The Saints had a near disaster on the next possession after not fielding the kickoff.

However, Amarian Molette recovered a fumble to make up for the special teams’ mistake.

The teams again traded punts before the Mustangs added a safety and another touchdown to go up 34-14.

It would be the largest lead of the night before the Saints started a ferocious comeback.

The rally was aided by Jonathan Pressley, who returned a kickoff for a score, and Taqwillis Chappell, who returned a fumble recovery for a score.

A run by Brandon Hope put the team up 36-34 in front of the cheering crowd with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

However, the Mustangs added one more score in the final quarter, a 12-yard run from Duncan, and had the time-consuming drive to stall the Saints. Selma High School got the ball back with 39.9 seconds left and got beyond midfield before time expired.

Selma finishes the season 1-9 while Stanhope Elmore closes the season with a 4-6 record, including a win by forfeit over Prattville.