By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
LEEDS – The Leeds Green Wave (10-0) defeated Arab (7-3) 33-7 Friday night at Homer Smiles Stadium.
The Greenies looked to have a tough match-up on paper heading into the game with the seventh-ranked Arabian Knights.
The number two-ranked Green Wave proved otherwise on the field.
Leeds started the scoring off with a 30-yard field goal by Avery Langford at the 7:02 mark to give Leeds a 3-0 lead.
The two teams traded punts over the next two possessions.
An interception by the Leeds defense led to a three-yard touchdown run by Conner Nelson with 9:09 remaining in the first half. Langford’s PAT gave Leeds a 10-0 lead.
The Leeds defense then forced another punt.
Nelson went 19 yards for a touchdown with 2:47 before the half.
The PAT was missed, and Leeds led 16-0 at the break.
An Arab fumble on their opening possession led to Nelson’s third score of the night.
His four-yard touchdown run gave the Greenies a 23-0 lead with 9:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Leed’s Jeremiah Hall then came up with the play of the night.
On Arab’s next possession, Hall deflected a pass before intercepting it and returning it 35 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown.
The Green Wave led 30-0 with four minutes gone in the third quarter after a successful PAT.
The two teams exchanged punts on their next two drives.
The Leeds offense moved the ball down the field before stalling.
Langford’s 26-yard field goal gave Leeds a 33-0 lead with 7:38 remaining in the game.
Arab finally got on the scoreboard on their next possession.
A 75-yard run with 7:19 remaining cut the lead to 33-7.
Leeds shaved almost six minutes off the clock on their next drive and moved to the Arab 15-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
The Arabian Knights got the ball back with 1:20 remaining but couldn’t score points.
“I’m proud of the guys tonight,” said Jerry Hood of Leeds. “We had great execution on offense.”
Leeds rushed for 232 yards with Nelson leading the way with 141 yards on three carries.
Defense is continuing to play outstanding,” he said. “Arab is a very good team.”
The Leeds defense held Arab to 139 yards.
“This was a good night for Leeds,” he said.
Leeds travels to Ramsay Friday night to take on the fourth-ranked Rams.