By Justin Averette

Everyone knew the Panthers were going to win last week. The only question was which Panthers.

Jemison handily won the catfight at home against Southside-Selma, 41-14, on Sept. 4.

Coming off a loss against rival Chilton County, the Panthers now improve to 1-1 and 1-0 in Class 4A, Region 3, with another region contest looming Friday, at Calera.

The Panthers won the match-up last season, 21-19, and both teams wound up making playoff appearances. This year’s game could decide playoff seeding once again.

On Friday, Southside quarterback Bartavious Hall scored with 3:19 to go in the first quarter, putting Southside up 0-6. The team then missed its 2-point conversion attempt.

Jemison would get back on track behind star player Javae Swindle.

The super sophomore ran for touchdowns, caught touchdowns, played under center, grabbed an interception, netted several tackles and ran back kickoffs.

Jemison’s first score came from a 32-yard Swindle run. The scores would then come quickly and often.

Jemison quarterback Scott Clements found Swindle from 25 yards out for six. A 15-yard run by Swindle would make the score 21-6 with 9:16 to go in the third.

Clements then scored on a quarterback keep to make the score 27-6. Isa Bentley added another touchdown with a 3-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.

Southside-Selma found the end zone again off a quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line, but it was too little, too late.

Jemison’s David Kind ran in from 19 yards out to cap the night’s score with 55.7 seconds to go in the game.

Thorsby, meanwhile, lost at American Christian on Sept. 4, 44-8, to drop to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in Class 2A, Region 4.

ACA shut down Thorsby quarterback Andrew Farris’ favorite target, junior Marcus Bray, but tight end Eric Camarillo picked up the slack by catching four passes for 48 yards.

Farris was 7-of-15 overall for 59 yards. Bray was effective running the football, amassing 68 yards on four carries.

Dillian Simmons rushed 11 times for 45 yards, including Thorsby’s only touchdown. Camarillo caught a pass from Farris for the 2-point conversion.

The Rebels have showed signs of improvement from last season’s 0-11 campaign, but their task of picking up their first win of the season won’t get any easier this week as Pickens County High visits. The Tornados defeated Thorsby 61-6 in 2008.

– Stephen Dawkins contributed to this report.