Leeds Green Wave crushes Fayette County to claim state title for second straight season
On Dec. 4, the Leeds Green Wave made its second trip to Bryant Denny Stadium in three years and came away with a second State Championship in as many years. This title is the fourth in eight seasons for the Green Wave, and Keith Etherege and his coaching staff.
Four years ago, this group of seniors sat on a turf field at Piedmont High School and cried their eyes out after a tough 7-0 loss to the then No. 2 Bulldogs. Leeds went on to lose to Fayette County in the third round of the playoffs. Leeds lost another tough one to Piedmont in the regular season the following year on their way to the State Championship game in Bryant Denny Stadium in 2013. Leeds lost that game to a very good Madison Academy team in their final year in class 3A.
Leeds started its first season in class 4A with a 24–21 revenge win at Madison Academy on ESPN, followed by a blowout win at Piedmont. Leeds did suffer a controversial loss at Dadeville 20–14 on their way to State Championship number three, winning it in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
This season’s journey got off to a rocky start for the Green Wave. Leeds suffered a 19–14 loss in a televised game at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery. Two weeks later Leeds suffered a tough overtime loss at region rival Munford 49–48. That game seemed to be the turning point of the season for Leeds. Leeds finished the regular season as Region Champs once again. Leeds ran through the playoffs with shutout wins over Clarke County and number one ranked UMS Wright. Now standing in their way to back-to-back state titles was football tradition rich Fayette County.
The Green Wave knocked the Tigers down quickly and early in the first quarter when Tennessee commit Tadarryl Marshall threw a bomb to Koi Freeman for a 54-yard touchdown. With 9:34 Leeds was up 7–0 with Morgan Coston’s extra point.
Leeds finished the quarter up 14–0 with a one-yard touchdown run by Tre Nation. It was his first of five touchdowns of the day.
Leeds started the second quarter off 1st and goal at the Fayette County 4-yard line. Nation scored touchdown number two from four yards out. The extra point put Leeds up 21–0 with 11:54 left in the half.
The Tigers put together a drive and finally got on the scoreboard when Kondarius Wilson found Drew Guy for a 12-yard touchdown. With 7:55 left in the first half Leeds was up 21-7.
Leeds took away the Tigers momentum on the very next drive with a Tre Nation 8-yard touchdown run. The extra point failed, but Leeds was up 27-7. The turning point of the game and fate of the Tigers came on their next drive. Fayette County drove the ball all the way down inside the Leeds ten-yard line. A huge sack by Michael Rankins for a seven-yard loss forced a 4th and long, now at the Leeds 15. Koi Freeman nearly picked off the Tigers pass to the end zone keeping the Green Wave up 27–7 at halftime.
Leeds stopped the Tigers in three plays to start the third quarter. Leeds got the ball at their 38-yard line. Brandon Franklins 39-yard run on a speed sweep set Leeds up first and goal at the Fayette County 6-yard line. Nation once again got in the end zone with a 6-yard touchdown.
The Leeds defense, which had been an absolute nightmare for Fayette County all morning long, got their turnover on the Tigers next possession. Michael Rankins tipped a ball in the air and Koi Freeman picked the pass off setting Leeds up at the Tigers 45-yard line. It only took five plays for Nation to score his 5th touchdown of the day, this time from 13 yards out. With the extra point Leeds now led 41–7 after three quarters.
Brandon Franklin who just missed scoring a touchdown in the third quarter got his touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run. Gadarious Rogers closed out the scoring and the Fayette County Tigers with a 3-yard touchdown run. Leeds declawed the Tigers 55–7.
The stats heavily favor the Green Wave. Brandon Frankin finished the day with three carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Koi Freeman had three receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown. Freeman also had an interception on defense. TaDarryl Marshall finished with 159 all-purpose yards on offense. Marshall was three of six for 68 yards passing and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 11 times for 91 yards. The bell cow for the Green Wave the last two weeks has been Tre Nation. Nation carried the ball 27 times for 186 yards and five touchdowns. Nation has scored 12 touchdowns in the last two games for the Green Wave and finished the State Championship game as the MVP. Drew Guy finished 15 of 30 for 196 yard and a touchdown for the Tigers. Keyante Jackson led the Leeds defense with six tackles, two for loss, Josephus Smith, Isaiah Sharp-Perry, Michael Ramkins, Alex Nichols, and all had sacks in the game. Rankins and Sharp-Perry batted down passes all day long. Leeds finished with 463 yards of total offense to the Tigers 155 yards. The Green Wave defense held the Tigers to -41 yards rushing for the day.
Leeds High School and the City of Leeds celebrate back-to-back state Championships. This 2016 class joins the 2012 class as the only two classes to graduate with two state titles. The 2012 class got their rings in 2008 and 2010. This 2016 class won back-to-back 2014, and 2015. This is a history that both classes are proud to be a part of.
While Leeds celebrates another state title, it must also prepare for changes going into next season. Leeds will definitely be in a new region as all of the classifications are up for region realignment. There was a couple of changing of the guards in the game as well. Marshall tapped in sophomore quarterback Zac Roberts to finish the game. Tre Nation handed the torch off to Tyler Rose and Jermain Williams in the backfield and Morgan Coston handed the kicking torch off to Greg Dawkins.
Yes the Green Wave finished with two losses but that does not matter in their eyes. All that matters is that the Leeds Green Wave is the 2015 class 4A BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPIONS!