By Will Heath, For the Tribune
LEEDS — The first visiting team to play on the new turf at Homer Smiles Field was also the first to claim a piece of it for themselves.
The St. Clair County Saints mounted a 79-yard drive in the fourth quarter on Friday night against rival Leeds to take a 14-13 lead. They held off the Green Wave’s last gasp possession and celebrated a wild road victory.
“I’m proud of our group,” St. Clair head coach Tyler Robinson said after the game. “We’re stepping up once again, finding a way to win.”
Robinson’s Saints (2-0) found a way Friday largely thanks to the efforts of a rugged defense that held Leeds (0-1) out of the end zone for most of the game. Robinson noted that the Saints’ defense played with purpose after two straight years of struggling against the Green Wave.
“Last two years … it’s been a track meet,” Robinson said. “So that’s been a very, very heavy conversation we’ve had all week.
“And they owned it, man. They played lights out.”
It was that defense that kept the Saints in it. After a drive failed in Leeds territory, the Green Wave advanced the ball to St. Clair’s 21-yard line, with the fourth quarter ticking away.
St. Clair, however, forced a fumble from Leeds quarterback Brennen Archer, to set up the final possession.
That put things in the hands of junior Saint quarterback Jayken Carden, who had taken over for injured starter Landyn Smith in the second quarter. Carden converted, finishing the drive with a 14-yard scramble to tie the game. The Saints’ Gabriel Goad hit his extra point to provide the winning margin.
“He’s (Carden) a baller, man,” Robinson said. “He’s been a baller for a long time. I’m just excited he got to come in and help his team find a way to win.”
Carden finished with 77 yards rushing and throwing, and accounted for both St. Clair touchdowns.
Leeds got 132 yards rushing and 74 yards passing out of Archer. The junior also rushed for both Green Wave TDs from the quarterback spot.
Archer completed a 20-yard pass to Marquintis Meadows on the final drive of the game, giving himself a shot at a final throw into the end zone from the St. Clair 20-yard line. His final throw was incomplete, however, as the clock expired.
Leeds head coach Jerry Hood assessed both his and the victorious Saints as “two pretty good teams.”
“Make a mistake there, couldn’t stop them at the end,” Hood said. “It’s that close of a game, just that little bit.
“We just came up short. That’s all you can say.”
Both teams open region play next week. St. Clair County will return home to face Oxford. Leeds will travel to face Sylacauga.
“This is an opportunity … to stay together,” Hood said. “We start our real season next week with the region. And then, you better be playing a little bit better. So we’ll learn from this and come back.
“I love this team. They’re a good bunch of kids and we’ll be fine.”
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
Leeds falls to St. Clair County 14-13. Credit: Ron Burkett
