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Southside overcame a strong rainstorm to knock off crosstown rival Selma in the Queen City Classic on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

The Panthers (1-0) have beaten Selma three times in the last four years. Selma leads the all-time series 31-9.

“Beating them three out of four times means a lot,” Panthers head coach Charles Moody Jr.  said. “I wish that we had played better, but winning is all that counts.”

Derick Smith showed the Saints (0-2) why he’s considered one of the top juniors in the Class of 2025. Smith caught a 76-yard TD pass from MJ Reese and added a 12-yard TD in the third quarter.

“I remember last year’s game when they beat and I got thrown out of the game,” Smith said. “I wasn’t going to let Selma do that to me again.”

The Panthers had four scoring opportunities inside the Saints’ 20-yard-line but came away empty each time.

Jason Rogers recovered a fumble for Selma. Nicholas Thomas had an interception. Southside’s other two chances to score resulted in turnovers on downs.

With  17.7 seconds left before halftime, Reese threw a short pass to Smith, who outran the Saints’ defense to score for a 6-0 Panthers lead at halftime.

Smith’s 11-yard TD run and Jay Moore’s two-point conversion gave Southside a 14-0 third quarter lead. He finished with over 200 all-purpose yards.

Reese’s 3-yard TD run and Moore’s two-point conversion in the fourth quarter put the Panthers up 22-0.

Selma avoided a shutout when the defense recovered a fumble in the end zone and Omari Smith scored on a two-point conversion.

Selma hosts Demopolis next Friday The Panthers visit Trinity next Friday.