Leeds Rolls Into Round Two With 33-7 Win Over Arab

Leeds, AL – The fifth ranked Leeds Green Wave ran their winning streak to five games knocking off the Arab Arabian Knights 33-7, in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A postseason, Friday night in front of their home crowd at Homer Smiles Field.  

Head coach Jerry Hood’s Green Wave rolled to a 16-0 advantage through the first two quarters, added a pair of touchdowns in the third and a field goal in the fourth before the Knights got on the board, snapping the shutout midway through the final period.   

The star of the first round matchup was undoubtedly Leeds quarterback Conner Nelson who racked up 141 yards on 21 carries and scored on runs of 3, 19 and 4 yards.  The junior signal caller’s passing game was on point as well as he finished the night with 66 yards through the air, connecting on 7-of-13 passes.  

Other noteworthy contributors to Leeds’ robust offensive effort included Zavier Dale, who scampered to 57 yards on 13 attempts, and Grayson Ford, who carried the ball five times for 44 yards. Avery Landford split the uprights twice, connecting on a pair of field goals from distances of 30 and 26 yards respectively.

Leeds’ defense also had a big night, intercepting a pair of Drew Puccio passes, one of which resulted in a 35-yard return touchdown by Jeremiah Hall.

Hagen Stewart emerged as the top performer for Arab, leading the visitors with 100 yards on 8 carries and accounted for the Knights’ lone score.

With the victory, fifth ranked Leeds improves to 9-2 and advances to round two where they will travel to Birmingham to take on the No. 2 Ramsay Rams.  

Arab’s season comes to a close at 8-3.  Head Coach Lee Ozmint’s fifth season at the helm of the Knights program was highlighted by their second consecutive Marshall County title and marked the first time the Knights have advanced to the playoffs in four consecutive seasons in program history.