By Will Heath, For The Tribune
LEEDS — Jerry Hood says his offense has a special incentive for its overpowering run game.
“We wanted to get 500 yards rushing,” Hood said. “If they do that, they get pizza on Thursday.”
Hood’s Green Wave didn’t quite reach that goal, coming up with a mere 483 yards on the ground in a 41-14 win over Springville, to open play in 5A Region 6.
The offense tallied 511 yards total.
“I was proud of them,” Hood said. “This is one of those games, you want to measure yourself by a standard of how you play. Can you play better this week than you did last week? Hopefully we’ll look at the film and see some really good things.”
Leeds (3-0, 1-0) got another staunch effort from sophomore Conner Nelson. Starting at quarterback in place of injured senior Jarod Latta, Nelson rushed twice for 25 yards to open the game. On the third play he handed off to a sweeping CJ Douglas, who carried it 42 yards for a game-opening touchdown.
Nelson accounted for 180 total yards, 154 of them on the ground. He scored 3 first-half touchdowns, and has now scored 9 touchdowns in 3 games.
Hood was particularly complimentary of his offensive line.
“We’re missing our starting left guard, Taylor Pulliam,” Hood said. “We started a freshman center, and then a junior left guard, and then 3 sophomores. And so I’m proud as heck of them.”
It was a play from the Leeds defense that ultimately helped break open the game.
With Leeds holding a 13-0 advantage, Springville’s Stephen Morrison broke loose for a 75-yard touchdown run on an option play. Morrison finished with 164 yards rushing and throwing, accounting for both Tiger touchdowns.
“Our guys got effort,” Springville head coach Jon Clements said after the game. “They got guts, man. That’s who our kids are. I want it to translate to more success for them.”
The ensuing Leeds drive failed to yield points, and the Tigers (0-3, 0-1) took over at their own 22 after a failed fake field goal.
It took one play for the Green Wave to retake the ball, as Leeds’ Joshua Lee recovered a loose ball. Nelson scored from 2 yards out, then from 44 on the ensuing possession. At halftime, the score was 27-6.
“That was a huge momentum shift,” Clements said.
Tailback Jeremiah Hunter controlled the action for most of the second half, returning the half’s opening kickoff to the Springville 43, then capping the ensuing drive with a 2-yard score. Hunter would finish with 162 yards for the Green Wave. Fellow tailback Miles Jones capped the scoring for Leeds, with a 13-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.
“It was a good night,” Hood said. “They’re getting better every week.”
Springville will travel next week to face region foe Southside, in Gadsden. Leeds will hit the road to play St. Clair County in Odenville.