Game

There is one common thing about the three Green Wave State Championship team; they all only had four home games, and six road games. Two of the three teams (2010 and 2014) had to travel to Mobile in the playoffs. The 2008 team won their title at Legion field. The 2010 team won theirs at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Leeds Green Wave made their second trip to Jordan Hare Stadium last Friday morning and for the second time Leeds walks out of Jordan Hare as State Champions. This is the schools third title in eight seasons, their first in 4A. The Leeds defense held a potent Deshler Tiger offense to 77 total yards of offense and posted their 4th shutout of the playoffs with a 30 – 0 win. And then the celebration began.

THE GAME:

The Green Wave defense did not take long to make their presence known in this game. The Tigers faced 3rd and 12 at their own 44. The Tigers quarterback Sam Howard completed his pass, but Adam Brown delivered a hard blow and caused a fumble and Josephus Smith recovered for the Green Wave. Leeds took over 1st and 10 at the Tigers 33. TaDarrly Marshall took the snap and threw a strike to Jermain (JJ) Johnson for a 33 yard touchdown. Morgan Coston converted the extra point and Leeds led 7 – 0 at the end of the first quarter.

Leeds started the second quarter 2nd and goal at the Tigers eight yard line. The Tigers defense held tough and forced Leeds to kick a 31 yard field goal. Coston converted the field goal and Leeds was up 10 – 0 with 10:56 left in the half. Coston later converted a 34 yard field goal to give Leeds a 13 – 0 lead. Leeds ended the half in dramatic fashion when senior Demontrez Clark picked off a Sam Howard pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. With the extra point Leeds led 20 – 0 at halftime.

That was the score through the third quarter as well. Both teams’ defenses held serve in the quarter. Leeds started the fourth quarter third and three at the Tigers 19 yard line. That drive stalled out and Morgan Coston converted a 37 yard field goal to put Leeds up 23 – 0 with 10:12 left in the game. Leeds forced the Tigers to punt and got the football at their own eighteen yard line. Marshall broke free for a 30 yard gain on the drives second play. Two plays later Marshall connected with Koi Freeman for a 7 yard gain into Tiger territory. Marchall and Tre Nation churned up yards on the ground all the way to the end zone with a Nation 7 yard touchdown. Leeds went up 30 – 0 and that was the final score. The Leeds Green Wave are the 2014 class 4A state champions.

THE STATS:

There are lots of stats in this game, the majority of which belong to the Green Wave. MVP Tadarryl Maarshall had 20 carries for 120 yards and was 6 of 11 for 98 yards and a touchdown passing. Tre Nation had 17 carries of 68 yards and a touchdown. He will finish the season 2050 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. He has 5681 yards rushing with 73 touchdowns in three years so far. Jacoby Lockhart finishes the season with and high school career with 21 interceptions. Morgan Coston converted field goals of 31, 34, and 37 yards and both extra points on the day. Leeds held the Tigers to just 77 yards of total offense. Leeds had four shut outs in five playoff games this season, only giving up 14 points at UMS – Wright last week. Leeds won state titles in 2008, 2010, and now 2014.

FINAL THOUGHT:

The Green Wave road was a long one. They started in Huntsville with a 27 – 24 win over 3A state champ Madison Academy. This long road included road trips to Montgomery, Elmore County, a long trip to Mobile and concluded with State Championship trip to Auburn These players gave it their all and recovered from a flag filled controversial loss at Dadeville 20 – 14. That loss seemed to motivate an already motivated Leeds team. That loss seemed to propel the Green Wave into the rest of the season with Auburn on the horizon. Congratulations to the Leeds Green Wave players and coaches on winning their third State Championship. I’m sure there will be lot of comparisons between the three title teams. I will not be comparing them They were all the best team for the time they won their titles. Each team did it differently, but one thing is for sure, they are all a part of one team, and The Leeds Green Wave. Once again congratulations’ to the 2014 class 4A state champion, The Leeds Green Wave!!!!!