By Will Heath, For the Tribune
MOODY — Standing on the field at Bill Morris Stadium, Jerry Hood stated things plainly.
Hood’s Leeds High squad saw its season end Friday night against archrival Moody — the Blue Devils used a second-half onslaught to turn a tenuous 7-0 halftime advantage into a 42-0 blowout. They’ll take on Montgomery Catholic Thursday night in the 5A state title game at Birmingham’s Protective Life Stadium.
As for Leeds, Hood said, “… we just didn’t have enough bullets for what they were capable of.”
The Green Wave (11-3) had survived the first half thanks to timely defensive stops and Blue Devil mistakes. Fourth-ranked Moody (12-2) opened the game with a 3-play touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead, but failed twice on downs in Leeds territory before halftime.
Leeds’ offense had done its part, driving to the Moody 1 before a sneak by senior quarterback Conner Nelson was ruled short of the Blue Devil end zone.
“I’m pretty sure I got it across the goal line,” Nelson said. “But you can’t go back now.”
Conner Nelson Credit: Ron Burkett
In the third quarter, however, Moody’s offense grabbed the game by the throat. On the Blue Devils’ first offensive snap, quarterback Charlie Johnston found Josiah Dozier down the middle of the field for a 70-yard touchdown.
It was a portent of things to come. By the time Johnston found Jalijah Rutledge for his third touchdown pass of the game, the Blue Devils led 35-0.
“At every spot on both sides of the ball, they have a great collection of talent,” Hood said. “I thought they played extremely well tonight.”
They finished with 441 total yards of offense, most of it in the second half.
“The guys over the bridge did their thing,” Leeds senior Carlos Plascenscia said. “We just came up short.”
The loss puts a cap on a sterling run for Nelson, who managed only 37 yards rushing against Moody’s defense. He concludes his senior year with over 2,500 all-purpose yards at quarterback, in a season in which he played quarterback, receiver and safety.
“This senior class, we’ve been fighting,” Nelson said “Some of us been fighting for five years.
“It’s just a brotherhood that’ll last forever, and it’s truly amazing.”
Hood called the 2024 Green Wave one of his favorites.
“Because these kids were a joy to be around,” Hood said. “These kids, I think, were in the seventh grade, maybe when I came. They know nothing but winning.
“A lot of times we’re not the fastest or the heaviest or tallest team, but these kids absolutely believe they can win. They go out and do it all the time.”
Plascenscia called the LHS seniors “hard nosed dedicated workers.”
“I’ve known most every single one of them since I was little,” he said. “It’s just been a blessing to play with them since we were kids.
“The leadership is just amazing, and the team bond is just beautiful.”
