By Will Heath
For The Tribune
MOODY — Kavion Henderson was emphatic Friday night, mere minutes after the final seconds had drained off the clock for a 14-13 win over archrival Moody at Bill Morris Stadium.
Leeds running back Jeremiah Hunter find space to run during the Green Wave’s 14-13 win over Moody. (Photo by Ron Burkett).
“We work hard,” Henderson said to anyone who would listen. “We work hard.”
The junior defensive end, along with the rest of his teammates, put in extra work on Friday night, making a 14-0 halftime lead stand up.
“We had to overcome a lot of expectations,” Henderson said. “I know we were the underdog coming into this game, since Moody has a new great team, coaching staff. We had to play all the way to 0:00.”
They did just that. Moody (8-1, 4-1) out-gained Leeds 275-179, but saw 3 drives end on downs in Leeds territory. A fourth ended in a blocked field goal attempt.
Indeed, the game wasn’t officially in hand until Leeds defenders brought down Moody’s Davion Dozier as Dozier attempted to lateral to a teammate on the final play of the game, touching off a wild celebration from the packed visitors’ stands.
“It was a tough game, a hard fought game,” said Leeds’ CJ Douglas. “I think they’re (Moody) the best wide receiver corps in the state. So it was always tough against those guys. You’ve got to bring your A-game each and every play.”
The Green Wave (8-0, 4-0) helped its cause by harassing Moody’s Cole McCarty for much of the game, sacking him 6 times and keeping him under pressure. Even so, McCarty finished with 212 yards rushing and passing.
“Keep him (McCarty) in front of us,” Henderson said. “He scored a little bit, but we kept on playing.”
The decisive points, in fact, belonged to Henderson. Leading 6-0, the Green Wave put together its only long scoring drive of the night, keyed by a 38-yard pass from Jarod Latta to Miles Jones. Sophomore Conner Nelson capped the drive with a 1-yard run off tackle.
Nelson and tailback Jeremiah Hunter combined for 130 yards and scored both Green Wave touchdowns.
Following a Blue Devil offsides penalty, the Green Wave put the offense back on the field, with Latta handing off to Henderson at an H-back position. At halftime, Leeds led 14-0.
“Trust our defense,” said Latta. “We have the best defense in 5A, and we just held the No. 1 offense in 5A to 13 points. Nobody can claim that. Just do our job, follow the path and trust the process.”
Moody’s defense limited the Green Wave to three first downs in the second half, and McCarty found Dozier twice for touchdowns in the second half. Instead of an extra point to tie the game, however, a botched snap left the visitors ahead by a point.
“I was so proud of the Moody kids,” Leeds head coach Jerry Hood said. “They played good enough to win. Just come up a little short there on the extra point. It’s two good football teams that’ll go hopefully far in the playoffs.”
It was a taut game that lived up to the atmosphere for the game, played in front of a crowd that packed the stands more than an hour before kickoff.
“Amazing,” Douglas said. “It’s got to be the greatest atmosphere I ever played in. Throughout the whole game, it’s people cheering and it’s loud and it’s crazy.”
Hood echoed those sentiments.
“I told the kids before the game, when they’re cheering you coming to warm up, you’re in a playoff atmosphere,” Hood said. “That’s what it was tonight.”
Leeds now looks to wrap up a 5A Region 6 title next week at home against Lincoln.
“Have fun tonight,” Latta said. “Maybe a little bit tomorrow. Then focus on Sunday, and get ready for our next opponent.”
Click here for more coverage of the 2022 Battle of the Bridge.
