Baldwin rolls into Round 3 with win against Columbus

Published 11:31 pm Friday, November 16, 2018

The Baldwin Braves played host to the Columbus Blue Devils on Friday night in a second round matchup of the GHSA Class 4A state playoffs. Despite nearly freezing winter weather, Baldwin was able to stay hot and bring home yet another win — this time by a margin of 21-0.

“People are going to give you their best this time of year,” BHS head coach Jesse Hicks said after the game. “I felt really good about how our guys kept their composure. We had a couple of milestones tonight. Noah Hill got over the 1,000-yard mark rushing and Donte (Justice) had another interception, which I think gives him the school record. We just controlled the line of scrimmage against them. They couldn’t really do anything throwing or running with the way our defense is playing right now.”

The game got off to a seemingly slow start as the score remained at 0-0 the entire first quarter.

Finally, after being setup with great field position by its defense, the home offense was able to get into the end zone on an underneath handoff to Noah Hill. With roughly seven minutes to go in the half Baldwin had grabbed the 7-0 lead.

“They came out in a front we didn’t recognize, and we’ve got two freshmen playing the guards so that kind of disturbed us a little bit,” Hicks said. “We changed our formation to try and force their hand to get them in the look they usually get into and started running the ball right at them.”

The Braves’ defense stepped up and was soon able to secure a big fourth down stop on Columbus’ subsequent possession. 

Once again, the offense looked at outstanding field position and a quick screen pass to Hill took them all the way to inside the 5-yard line. 

No time was wasted as Zaahir Salahuddin punched it in on the next play from scrimmage to give Baldwin a two-touchdown lead. 

Columbus received the ball but wouldn’t keep it for long as the Braves’ defensive pressure forced a fumble just a few plays into the drive. 

The home side’s rhythm kept rolling and Derrick Lewis connected with Jaylin Battle on a crossing route into the end zone to secure a 21-0 lead just before the halftime buzzer sounded. 

The score would remain unchanged for the remainder of the game despite a hard-nosed 24 minutes of football. The Braves’ offense remained efficient, utilizing the rush to milk the clock and resorting to the pass only when necessary.

Donte Justice and Trey Trawick each nabbed interceptions in the second half as the home defense remained stout to keep the opposition scoreless for the remainder of the night. 

Shortly into the final quarter of the ballgame, Baldwin secured the ball on Trawick’s interception and worked the clock all the way to just under three minutes before punting away. 

The Braves’ defense went about its business as it had all night and eventually forced a turnover on downs to hand the ball back to the offense for a victory formation.

The Braves will once again be defending their home field Friday, Nov. 23, this time against Cartersville in Round 3 of the GHSA 4A state playoffs. Cartersville beat Ridgeland 41-7 to advance.