Braves get big first round win

Published 11:36 pm Friday, November 9, 2018

Playoff football feels different. The stakes are higher and each team swells with pride just to have made it out of the grueling regular season and into “win or go home” territory. 

The Baldwin Braves survived one more week with a 39-22 win at home against visiting Perry on Friday night.

The Braves are clearly living comfortably in this new territory.

Stout defense and a consistent running attack propelled the team to victory. 

Shondraus King and Trey Trawick earned themselves two touchdowns a piece in the game, with Trawick snagging an interception on defense for good measure.

Donte Justice joined in on the action and was able to add two more interceptions to his season total, which stands now at 10.

Baldwin started the scoring early when a jet sweep to King put Baldwin up just two minutes into the ballgame. After forcing a punt on Perry’s following possession, Baldwin marched it down the field to score again — this time with a quarterback sneak from 2 yards out by Derrick Lewis. 

With roughly six minutes left to go in the first quarter, the Braves found themselves up 14-0.

The Braves would score once more before the opening quarter came to a close with a jet sweep to Trawick.

They wouldn’t find the end zone again in the first half, but their defense only gave up a field goal. Add to that a bobbled snap on a punt that Perry recovered and took to the house and the score stood at 21-10 at halftime.

A great kick pinned Perry deep in its own end zone to start the second half, and a timely interception by Justice set up Baldwin with great field position. In no time, Noah Hill was crossing the goal line to give the Braves a more comfortable lead at 27-10.

Trawick and King each scored their second touchdowns later in the third quarter, both on sweep plays.

“I believe we have a few of the best running backs in the state, but its our O-line that doesn’t get enough credit,” head coach Jesses Hicks said, when asked about his team’s offensive game plan. “We’ve got two freshmen on that line that have really shown up for us.”

In the fourth quarter, the Braves’ defense showed some signs of fatigue by giving up two touchdowns, but a timely interception by Justice gave the offense an opportunity to run the clock out and ultimately win the ball game by a final margin of 39-22. 

Next week, the Braves will again defend home turf as they face Columbus in the second round of the GHSA 4A state playoffs.