By Shane Paschal, For the Tribune
IRONDALE, Ala.-Leeds made the short drive down I-20 to Old Leeds Road to face Shades Valley at Frank Nix Stadium for the first time. In what could be called the “Battle of Old Leeds Road,” the Greenwave toughed out a 27–6 victory in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests.
The Mounties took the opening kickoff but failed to gain any ground and quickly punted. Leeds capitalized with a 37-yard Tyler Vandiver field goal to take a 3–0 lead with 8:16 left in the first quarter. After the teams traded punts, Leeds had the ball at midfield as the quarter ended.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Early in the second, the Greenwave reached the Valley 12 but had to settle for a 28-yard Vandiver field
goal, extending their lead to 6–0 with 9:32 left in the half. The Mounties answered with their best drive of the night, starting from their own 25. A 15-yard penalty and a 30-yard run by quarterback Antwan Kelser set Valley up at the Leeds 30. On the very next play, Kelser connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass to Corey Knight. The extra point was no good, but the game was tied 6–6 with 6:34 left in the half.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Both teams traded possessions, and with only seconds left before halftime, Valley fumbled, giving Leeds the ball at the Mounties’ 41. Leeds let the clock expire, sending the teams to the locker room tied.
The second half began with more of the same—both teams exchanging punts. With 4:59 left in the third, Leeds started a drive at their own 40. Two plays later, the Greenwave struck with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Sam Lollar to Jacauri Swain. The extra point gave them a 13–6 lead with 3:25 left in the quarter.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds then surprised Valley with an onside kick and recovered it.
One play later, Lollar connected with Swain on a 51-yard touchdown pass. The extra point pushed the lead to 20–6 with 2:26 left in the third, and that score held through the end of the quarter.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
In the fourth, Leeds controlled the clock and capped a long drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Lollar to Marquintis Meadows at the 2:51 mark. The extra point made it 27–6. The Mounties turned the ball over on downs on their final possession, and Leeds ran out the clock for a convincing win—though the game was tighter than the score indicates.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
“Well, there’s certainly some things I was proud of, but we have a lot of things to work out in order to be where we want to be,” said Leeds head coach Jerry Hood. “I told them that the first two games of the year are just a pre-test for the region play,” he said. “Let’s not get carried away with a win or loss.”
“They made plays in the second half and we didn’t,” said Valley’s George Bates.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
“We got to put drives together and stop big plays,” he said.
Hood had praise for the Valley program under Bates. “George did a great job,” he said. “His kids played super hard and you can see him building that team in the image he wants it.”
“That quarterback is dynamic, they’ve got good speed at receiver and they’re tough defensively, real tough.”
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds rolled up 304 yards and held the Mounties to 134 yards. Lollar finished with 205 passing yards on 14 of 17 passing attempts with three touchdowns.
Region play begins next week for both teams. Shades Valley travels to Oxford to face the Yellow Jackets, while Leeds hosts Springville.
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds defeats Shades Valley. Credit: Ron Burkett
