FIELD OF CHAMPIONS — In Thursday night’s battle between the top two teams in Class 3A the result came down to the play of the two quarterbacks. As the final outcome proved, there is no substitute for experience.

The top-ranked Bulldogs, led by senior signal caller Cade Bradley, defeated No. 2 Leeds and freshman quarterback Tadarryll Marshall 7-0 Thursday night in a game many think might have been a preview of the Class 3A state title game.

The overflow crowd on both sides of the field was treated to a classic defensive slugfest filled with tipped passes, turnovers, coffin-corner punts, and bone-rattling tackles.

Piedmont defensive lineman Marquez Gamble spent much of the night in the Leeds backfield. His forced fumble in the first quarter set up the only score of the night, a pass from Bradley to running back Jamie Major.

Piedmont advanced the ball to the Leeds 38 on the first drive of the game but had to punt after an incomplete pass by Bradley on third-and-8. Leeds’ opening drive ended after Collin Bradley sacked Marshall for a three-yard loss.

Piedmont threatened on the ensuing drive, but placekicker Dillon Terry missed a 47-yard field goal with 1:30 remaining in the first quarter.

On the next play, Gamble’s forced fumble gave the ball to Piedmont at the Green Wave 12-yard line. Bradley tossed to Major on third down from the 9 for what proved to be the game-winning score.

Leeds spent the rest of the first half trapped deep in its own end of the field, giving Piedmont another chance at a field goal with 53 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Terry missed wide right on a 42-yard attempt.

For most of the third quarter, Piedmont outdueled Leeds in the battle for field position. Twice, Bradley punts of 50-plus yards pinned the Green Wave near its own goal line.

Defensive lineman Exavyer Jackson’s sack of Marshall ended one Leeds drive. The Green Wave only made its way into Piedmont territory once in the entire second half. That trip came after a 54-yard punt return by Jonathon Haglar with less than six minutes remaining in the game.

The Green Wave then moved down to the Piedmont 15-yard line before Terry registered yet another sack of Marshall and snuffed out the drive.

The young Leeds quarterback finished the night with only a pair of completions and 20 yards passing in eight attempts. He rushed eight times for minus-30 yards.

Bradley completed 7-of-15 passes for 84 yards. Piedmont’s Sarandon Dunbar led a platoon of Piedmont running backs with 30 yards on the ground.

Overall, the Bulldogs gained 156 yards on offense while holding Leeds to only 81 .

The Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) travel to White Plains Friday night to face the Wildcats (2-3, 0-3).