Ellis Nation picks up yardage in the 28-0 win over Lincoln.
LINCOLN — Top-ranked Leeds opened the 2012 season with a dominating road victory, defeating Lincoln 28-0.
The first quarter saw no scoring drives, but plenty of offensive action. For Leeds, Ellis Nation took most of the running handoffs, picking up 34 yards in the first with most of them being short gains. Jonathan Hagler followed with 33 yards, but on just two carries, averaging 16.5 yards per touch.
Lincoln struggled offensively, with main running back TJ Truss gaining just five positive yards and Tykey Sillmon picking up a single positive yard.
Leeds ended the first with a first-and-goal at the 1-yard-line. Three short runs later, Nation ran in a 1-yard touchdown with 10:32 left in the half. The point after was good, giving the away team a 7-0 lead.
Leeds wasted no time getting on the board on its next possession — five plays into the Green Wave’s next drive, Hagler ran in a 3-yard touchdown with 6:08 left in the half. The point after was good, and Leeds gained a 14-0 lead over Lincoln.
Leeds began its opening drive of the half on the Lincoln 36-yard line. Three big carries from Nation put the Green Wave in a second and 9 situation from the 15. Quarterback Tadarryll Marshall scrambled from the line and completed an 11-yard pass to sophomore Jacoby Lockhart to the 4 yard line for a first down.
Nation lost 2 yards on the first down, gained five back on the second, but it was senior Devin Braxton who ran in the 1-yard touchdown. The third quarter ended 21-0 in favor of Leeds.
Sillmon gained 12 yards in the quarter, Truss had negative four yards and Tredarian Gamble had 12 yard receiving. The Golden Bears failed to find the end zone for another 12 minutes and had two penalties in the quarter.
Leeds jumped out of the gate quickly in the fourth, with senior Courtney Rose catching a 50-yard pass from Marshall on the opening play. Just 11 seconds into the final quarter, Leeds led 28-0.
Leeds coach Keith Etheredge said his team played well.
“We didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot,” Etheredge said. “We had a couple of penalties, but the little things didn’t get to us. We did a good job with field position. I was pleased with the play of the offensive line. Our kids played hard and took care of the football.”
Lincoln will take on Munford Friday at home. Leeds will travel to Montgomery to face Trinity Presbyterian.
