Braves dominate on the road, now look to playoffs

Published 11:37 pm Friday, November 2, 2018

AUGUSTA, Ga. — To say the Baldwin High School football turned its season around would be a severe understatement.

The Braves (5-5 overall, 4-0 region) lost their first five games against a train of tough opponents, but flipped the script in the second half by winning their last five, earning a Region 3 Class 4A championship. Baldwin perfected its yin and yang masterpiece Friday night by handling Cross Creek 31-0 on the road to complete that perfect mark in region play. 

BHS head coach Jesse Hicks was a little disappointed with his players’ effort early on in the win, but was glad they took care of business to get the shutout — their second shutout of the year.

“It was certainly better than the alternative,” Hicks said. “The alternative is a loss and that didn’t happen. 31-0 isn’t anything to sneeze at, but as a coach you always want the best and expect the highest standard from the kids. In any football situation you want to be sure you’re doing it right, and when you get to the playoffs you can’t make mistakes and you’ve got to play playoff-type football. That’s what I was looking for.”

Three different Braves pulled in interceptions Friday night, and defensive back Cori Jones returned a fumble for a touchdown to help his team along. Offensively, junior running back Noah Hill and senior quarterback Torez Hicks, who was coming off an injury, also got into the end zone.

The Baldwin football program now turns its collective attention to Perry High School, which defeated West Laurens 38-27 in its Friday night winner-goes-to-the-playoffs matchup. The Panthers finished fourth amongst strong Region 2 competition and will travel to Baldwin County next week for the opening round of the GHSA Class 4A state playoffs. 

“They’re going to be a formidable opponent,” Hicks said. “They’re not that far from Houston County and Warner Robins (geographically), and they’re probably going to bring a great crowd. We’re just looking forward to the first round. We can’t have bad practices and we can’t have bad quarters. You’ve got to play consistent football.”

Next week will be the first time Baldwin High has hosted a state playoff game since the 2011 season. That year the team fell to Monroe 12-9 in the first round.