Braves run away with region championship

Published 11:21 pm Friday, October 19, 2018

“Let’s go win region!”

Baldwin High School head football coach Jesse Hicks could be heard shouting that statement on the home sideline prior to Friday’s matchup against Region 3-4A opponent Burke County, and his players delivered. The Braves gamebreakers coupled with a cast of fresher faces made huge plays all night long to serve up a 30-7 victory against the visiting defending region champs. That title belongs to Baldwin now however, and its the first region championship for the school since 2009 since Hicks coached there the first time. 

“I think it says we’re back to the point where our kids proved it on the field,” the head coach said on what kind of statement his team sent out Friday. “You play some of the better teams in the state early and don’t get wins, but I knew it would all pay off. There was a method to my madness. I think these guys showed it tonight. We played great, great defense, and our kids are just playing at another level period. I just pray that we can keep it going.”

“I just want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to come back,” a choked up Hicks added moments after shaking hands with Burke’s players and coaches.

Among the new cast of characters that showed up for the Braves Friday was freshman quarterback Derrick Lewis who was thrust into the fire after senior starter left last week’s win with an injury. Young Mr. Lewis showed poise well beyond his years, completing passes when his team needed him to and helped keep the offense turnover-free. 

Burke got on the board first as junior running back Leon McGee rumbled 31 yards to the end zone near the end of the first quarter. Not long after the tide would turn in the home team’s favor and stay that way for the remainder of the night. With about seven minutes remaining in the first half, a 38-yard scamper by BHS tailback Noah Hill set up his backfield mate Zaahir Salahuddin for a short TD run to tie things up. 

The ensuing possession is where momentum fully swung the home team’s way. Baldwin kicker Lucas Webb angled his kickoff toward the home sideline, and Burke’s returner fielded it while going out of bounds simultaneously at the 10-yard line. A Milton Adams sack and pass deflection later in the drive forced a punt that gave BHS the football at midfield. The very next play the QB Lewis found senior playmaker Donte Justice for 50 yards and the score to put the home team up 14-7. 

Things only got worse for the visiting Bears from there. Baldwin received the second half opening kickoff and milked nearly half the third quarter’s clock before punting the football away. Do-it-all kicker/punter Webb delivered again with the help of his coverage unit who downed the football inside of Burke’s own 1-yard line to put the defending region champs in a huge hole. BHS defensive coordinator Rod Cummings reduced his defensive line down and sent some pressure that found its way home in the form of senior C.J. Hurst who tackled the Bear ballcarrier in the end zone for a safety. The home crowd was absolutely electrified at that point and there was no coming back for the team clad in blue and white. 

“Everybody doubted us when we lost our first few games,” an elated Hurst told The Union-Recorder after the game. “Now we’re back and we’ve won four straight. We’re going to try to win the last one to end the season and take that into the playoffs. We’re close to home.”

Hill added a touchdown run late in the third, and Lewis hooked up once again with Justice, who made a beautiful adjustment to come back to the football, for a 22-yard score early in the fourth. 

Baldwin was clicking on both sides of the football, but the defense really produced in the third quarter, keeping Burke from achieving a first down throughout the period. 

“This is everything I expected it would be,” said Adams, the team’s defensive leader. “Going out with a region championship my senior year means a lot to me. I promise you we’re coming stronger, and we’re coming harder.”

The Braves’ offense, coordinated by coach Jamoski Ward, threw in some new wrinkles that kept the opposing defense on its heels throughout the second half as well. Ward’s unit took over with over six minutes left in the ballgame and never gave the football back. 

With the win, Baldwin clinches a region championship regardless what happens in its regular season finale in a couple of weeks. The Braves have a week to rest up before finishing out the regular season at Cross Creek Nov. 2.