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The 2010 Leeds Green Wave hoped to duplicate the success of the 2008 team with a perfect 15-0 record and a state championship. Last year's team finished with a 11-3 record, losing in the semi-finals of the playoffs to eventual champions Piedmont 13-7.           Key players returning included; Senior RB/S Dedrick Forsythe (5-11, 185); senior WR/LB Charles Miller (5-9, 160); junior RB/ LB Ladarius Rodgers (5-10, 185); senior DB/WR Jonathan Rose (6-2, 180); senior WR/LB Jermaine Smith (6-1, 170).            The backfield returned a trio of stars and two 1,000 yard rushers. A stingy defense and a powerful ground game would be the key for Leeds in 2010.

Leeds 17   0   7   14   38     Alexandria 0   0   0   0   0

Leeds opened the season with a 38-0 shutout of Alexandria as Dantrell Purifoy ran for 138 yards on 13 carries. He scored on a 10-yard run in the first period and a 45-yard dash in the final stanza. Shane McGinnis added 105 yards on only six attempts as the Green Wave gained 328 yards on the ground and another 88 through the air.           The defense registered a safety when Javier Mitchell sacked the Alexandria quarterback in the end zone during a 17 point first quarter. They also limited the Valley Cubs to just 25 yards passing and a total of 140 yards in the game.

Leeds 14   10   21   7   52     Marbury 7   0   3   0   10

Dedrick Forsythe rushed for 190 yards on just five carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Green Wave to a 52-10 demolition of an outmanned Marbury team in week two. His touchdowns came on runs of 30, 76 and 71 yards. Dantrell Purifoy added 110 yards on 20 carries.           Quarterback Shane McGinnis completed 9-of-11 passes for 100 yards and scored on a five-yard run. Leeds gained 352 yards on the ground to totally overpower Marbury.

Clay County 0   0   0   0   0   0     Leeds 0   0   0   0   3   3

The Leeds Green Wave need an overtime period to defeat Clay County in week three by the score of 3-0. Keeton Glass booted a 24-yard field goal to secure the victory in the first overtime. Jonathan Rose sealed the win by knocking down a fourth down pass by Clay County.           The first half saw rain which made the playing field slippery the entire game slowing down both offenses. Leeds managed just 56 yards of offense but the defense contained the Panthers.

Leeds 0   20   0   7   27     Walter Wellborn 0   0   3   0   3

After a scoreless first quarter, the Green Wave exploded for 20 second quarter points as they rolled over Walter Wellborn 27-3 in week four. Dedrick Forsythe and Jonathan Ross each scored two touchdowns in the game. Forsythe's touchdowns came on a 41-yard punt return in the second period and a four-yard run for Leeds' final score of the game with 4:26 remaining.

Leeds 7   10   0   7   24     St. Clair County 0   0   0   7   7

In week five, Leeds led 17-0 at the half and ended up beating undefeated St. Clair County 24-7. The offense struggle a little gaining only 118 yards rushing but there were no turnovers and the offense capitalized on good field position to garb a lead. McGinnis tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Shelton in the first quarter. The Saints did not score against the defense until he game was well in hand.

Central Coosa 0   0   0   7   7     Leeds 34   14   7   7   62

In week six, the Green Wave exploded offensively as they trounced Central Coosa 62-7. Jonathan Rose scored three touchdowns on a 58-yard recpetion, a 60-yard punt return and a 58-yard pass from McGinnis in the fourth quarter. The crowd at Homer Smiles Field saw the Green Wave jump out to a 34-0 first quarter lead and extended it to 48-0 by halftime.           The only thing that kept the score from being even worse was that both coaches agreed to shorten the second half to eight minute quarters. McGinnis completed 3-of-4 passes for 199 yards while the defense held Central to just 18 yards of offense in the first half and did not allow a first down until the third period.

Leeds 13   20   14   14   61     Beulah 0   6   0   0   6

The No. 1 ranked Green Wave topped the 60 point mark again in a 61-6 win over an outmanned Beulah team in week seven. Leeds rolled to a 33-6 halftime lead and coasted behind the play of Rose who returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown and an interception 22 yards for another score.           Dedrick Forsythe led all ball carriers with 149 yards rushing on just six carries and scored on runs of 58, 53 and 27 yards. Ladarius Rodgers scored on a 22-yard run, Dez Mitchell ran 42 yards for a touchdown and Dantrell Purifoy raced 47 yards for another score. The defense held Beulah to negative yards rushing in the second half.

B.B. Comer 0   0   0   0   0     Leeds 14   14   14   0   42

Leeds shutout B.B. Comer 42-0 to run their record to a perfect 8-0 behind Rodgers 142 yards rushing. He scored three touchdowns as the top-ranked Green Wave collected their third shutout of the season. Rodgers scored on runs of 31, 34 and 49 yards. Leeds scored two  touchdowns in each of the first three quarters before the reserves took over for the starters.

Handley 7   6   0   0   13     Leeds 7   7   0   0   14

Leeds faced the undefeated Handley Tigers in week nine for the Class 3A Region 3 championship. It was a game that was suppose to be close and did not disappoint as the Green Wave held on for a hard fought 14-13 win to claim the region title.           Handley got on the scoreboard first when they returned a fumble 43 yards for an early touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Leeds came back with a 61-yard drive in eight plays to tie the score and grabbed the lead on a 93-yard, 10-play drive. Purifoy got the first touchdown and Dedrick Forsythe scored the second.           Handley had a chance to tie the game when they scored on a 22-yard run just before halftime but the extra point was missed after a delay of game penalty. Leeds led 14-13 at the half. Neither team was able to score in the second half and Leeds went home with an important 14-13 win.

Leeds 14   14   14   7   49     Moody 0   0   6   7   13

The Green Wave completed a perfect 10-0 regular season with a 49-13 win over an outmanned Moody (0-10) team. They led 28-0 at the half and coasted to their tenth victory. Jonathan Rose returned a punt 90 yards for one score and Forsythe returned a kickoff 94 yards for another.

Greensboro 0   0   0   0   0     Leeds 14   7   14   7   42

The Green Wave shutout Greensboro 42-0 in the first round of the playoffs to run their record to 11-0. Leeds led 21-0 at the half as they outgained Greensboro 201 to 59 yards. The offense kept the football on the ground most of the game as Purifoy ran for 67 yards on eight carries and Forsythe gained 69 yards on 12 attempts.           The Leeds' special teams blocked a punt and Rose returned another 61 yards for a touchdowns. McGinnis finished the game completing 4-of-9 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns of 25 yards to Jesse Turner and 45 yards to Rose.

Clay County 0   0   0   6   6     Leeds 3   0   7   7   17

Clay County and Leeds met for the second time this season with similar results. The Green Wave led 3-0 at the half and eventually won by a score of 17-6. McGinnis threw for 152 yards and his backfield mates rushed for 185 total yards.            Leeds controlled the football in the second half as they maintained possession for over sixteen minutes. Forsythe ran for 90 yards on 10 carries to pace the ground attack. Clay County scored late after the outcome was already assured.

Leeds 7   21   7   14   49     Bayside 0   0   7   0   7

Leeds rushed for 449 yards as they completely dominated Bayside Academy 49-7 on the road. Dantrell Purifoy ran for 145 yards on 13 carries while Forsythe gained 105 yards on 12 carries. The Green Wave led 28-0 at the half and coasted to the quarter-final win.

Leeds 6   12   0   7   25     Gordo 7   0   0   0   7

Dedrick Forsythe ran for over 200 yards in the first half and finished the night with 258 yards rushing on 20 carries as the Green Wave defeated Gordo 25-7 to advance to the Super Six championships in Auburn. Forsythe scored twice in the first half on runs of 44 and 76 yards as Leeds led 18-7.           Gordo scored first but Jonathan Rose returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 7-6 in the first quarter. Forsythe scored twice in the second quarter and added a 23-yards touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.

Hamilton 6   6   14   6   32     Leeds 14   14   14   0   42

Third string running back LaDarius Rodgers was the star for Leeds as he rushed for 256 yards on 13 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 42-32 win over Hamilton. The victory gave Leeds the Class 3A state championship for 2010 in Auburn. Purifoy was nursing a hand injury and Forsythe pulled a hamstring on the first play of the game. The injuries thrust Rodgers to the forefront and he outperformed all expectations.           The Green Wave rushed for 418 yards and scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters to keep Hamilton from getting too close. It seemed that Leeds answered every time Hamilton scored. Hamilton scored first but Leeds answered with 28 straight points to take a 28-7 lead in the second quarter. Rose returned an interception 84 yards for a score and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt.           When Hamilton pulled to within nine in the third, Forsythe race 75 yards on the very next play to give the Green Wave a 42-26 lead. Hamilton scored again in the fourth but the defense held from there and the title belonged to Leeds.           Charles Miller, Dedrick Forsythe, Javiere Mitchell, Jonathan Rose and Ronnie Sheppard were named to the first team all-state squad by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Keaton Glass and Ladarius Rodgers were selected to the honorable mention team. Leeds 2010 8/27 38 Alexandria . . . . . . . . 0 9/3 52 Marbury . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9/10 3 Clay County . . . . . . . 0 9/17 27 Walter Wellborn . . . . 3 9/24 24 St. Clair County . . . 7 9/30 62 Central Coosa . . . . . 7 10/8 61 Beulah . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10/15 42 B.B. Comer . . . . . . . . 0 10/22 14 Handley . . . . . . . . . . . 13 10/28 49 Moody . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11/5 42 Greensboro * . . . . . . 0 11/12 17 Clay County * . . . . . 6 11/19 49 Bayside Academy * . . . 7 11/26 25 Gordo * . . . . . . . . . . . 7 12/2 42 Hamilton # . . . . . . . . 32 547 15-0 111 * Playoff game # State championship game

Amazing Seasons, a series on the greatest seasons in high school football history


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