The Selma High Saints football program hosted three other schools for its Selma Invitational seven-on-seven camp Monday afternoon.

The Southside Panthers, Sidney Lanier Poets and the Morgan Academy Senators competed in 20-minute scrimmages in the 94 degree heat at the Saints practice field.

It was the first live-action of the summer for each of the teams.

The footballs were flying around in the pass-only camp as quarterbacks tried to connect with their receivers against the opposing defenses.

The scrimmages weren’t just for practice, the teams were keeping score and fighting for each possession.

The boys had plenty of energy throughout the day, and it showed on the field. Quarterbacks showed off their arms. Receivers made toe-tapping catches. Defensive backs jumped on tipped passes and went all out to go for interceptions.

The Saints were excited to host the visiting teams for a day of competition.

“It turned out how I thought it would be,” Selma head football coach Christopher Raymond said. “We just want to come out and just get better. It’s not about winning and losing. It’s about the kids getting confidence and getting reps.

The Saints players were ready to go as well. Returning starting quarterback Tyreshon Freeman took the majority of the snaps for the Saints. Freeman and his first-team all-county selection receiver Gabriel Wade connected for multiple touchdowns much like they did last season.

“I liked the enthusiasm and the kids jumping around and having fun,” Raymond said. “Anytime you can get kids to come out and continue to work and get better, that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

The Panthers also had several returning players in action including quarterback Malik Johnson and receiver Derrick Griffin.

“I enjoyed seeing my team together,” Panthers head football coach Daniel Flowers said. “This was my first time seeing my skilled guys together. It’s actually been pretty good today. We had a few mistakes here and there, but they were correctable. We competed well against Selma High and Lanier.”

The Poets finished this past season 10-2 and made it to the second round of the playoffs. The team from Montgomery played fast and operated almost entirely with an empty backfield.

Lanier head coach Marvin Cunningham was glad to accept Raymonds invitation to get his boys some early work in for the summer.

“Coach Raymond always tries to put on a class program, so we wanted to be involved in that,” Cunningham said. “We came down to get our guys some good work with good athletes in a good all-around atmosphere. It just gives us an edge to get better as we go.”

The Senators had some new faces out on the field to open up for the summer. Jeremy Lee, who played for Meadowview Christian last season, was taking snaps for Morgan Academy.

“Jeremy Lee was a welcomed addition to us,” Thacker said. “He’s been throwing the football great for us so far and commanding the offense. He’s still got a ways to go, but that frees us up to allow Hardin, Ed and everyone else to be able to run the crisp routes we want to run.”

Even with the new quarterback, Thacker was impressed with what his guys showed in the first camp of the summer.

I thought we did a good job,” Senators head football coach Josh Thacker said. “All things considered, it was our first seven-on-seven. Today was a good family atmosphere for everybody. We really enjoyed the Selma High crowd, Southside crowd and the Sydney Lanier crowd. There was a lot of good sportsmanship and fellowship out here, but as far as our team, I’m pretty pleased.”

As the summer goes along, these teams will compete in more seven-on-seven camps to help prepare the skill players for the first kick-off in August.