Two turnovers and two massive special teams plays were enough to give Class 5A ninth-ranked and host Leeds a 24-21 victory over fifth-ranked Moody on Friday night at Homer Smiles Field.

With 24 seconds remaining, Leeds’ Reece Bittner blocked Junior Menosuarez’s 32-yard field goal attempt to tie the game. The block preserved the victory and touched off a wild celebration from the capacity crowd.

“It was ugly, but we came out on top,” Leeds defensive end Kavion Henderson said.

It was Henderson who helped the Green Wave grab that lead in the first place. The senior recovered a pair of fumbles by Moody’s Blaine Burke — one in the first quarter and one in the fourth — which his team’s offense converted into 10 points.

The last of those points proved the game-winner, a 29-yard field goal by Avery Langford that broke a 21-all tie with 4:31 left.

“Nothing special,” Langford said. “One thing led to another, did great.”

That kick was all either team could muster for most of the final two quarters after a first 30 minutes full of fireworks.

Leeds (6-2, 4-1) scored the first three times it touched the ball, opening with a 73-yard drive that ended with the first of two touchdowns by tailback ZJ Dale.

Burke fumbled on the first possession for Moody (7-2, 4-1) and Henderson’s recovery set up a 4-yard run by Leeds quarterback Conner Nelson. Nelson finished with 174 yards rushing and throwing.

“We just played fantastic throughout the whole team,” Nelson said. “Defense, offense, everybody just played fantastic.”

Moody responded with big plays of its own. Specifically, quarterback Charlie Johnston threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns.

He found Jahmad Dugger for a 38-yard touchdown to answer the Nelson score, then answered another Leeds touchdown with a 29-yard toss to Kadarius Barnes. After he found Barnes again from 35 yards out to open the second half, the game was tied at 21.

It stayed there until the second fumble set up Langford’s kick.

“That’s insane,” Langford said. “First year kicking too.”

Moody’s ensuing drive included a fourth-down conversion near midfield with two minutes remaining and a completion from Johnston to Burke that moved the ball to the Leeds 15. Two Johnston passes were incomplete in the end zone, setting up the final attempt, and Bittner’s block.

Burke finished with 160 yards rushing and receiving.

“Proud of our guys,” Moody head coach Jake Ganus said after the game. “We played hard. They fought. Defense held them to a field goal, the entire second half.

“But we put the ball on the ground twice. Had some costly penalties. That’s just going to get you beat.”

Ganus and the Blue Devils now return home to face Southside-Gadsden. With a win they could force a three-way tie for the Region 6 title. Jerry Hood’s Leeds team will travel to face Lincoln.

“I think … if we can win next week, I think, more than likely, we’ll be 2, probably,” Hood said. “We’re a young football team. And you’re seeing them grow up a little bit right now.

“Proud of our kids for toughing that out, proud of all the boys, for all they did.”