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November 21, 2008

Braves top Shaw, 29-19 to advance

The Baldwin High School Braves football team showed its true character Friday night in its 29-19 victory, according to their head coach.

“We really showed our character tonight, especially after they scored 19 straight point and we were down 19-16 with only four and a half minutes to play,” Coach Jesse Hicks said about his team after a come from behind 29-19 victory at home.

“I really believe we are a team of destiny,” Hicks also said.

The cold night started rough for both teams, as Baldwin forced Shaw to punt on its first possession, and then the Braves fumbled the very first snap on their possession. Following the fumble, the Braves blocked a field goal attempt by Shaw and took over at their own 11 yard line. After a one-yard run, Jerrico Ford ran 88 yards for a touchdown to put the Braves in front 7-0 after the extra point.

The first quarter ended with Baldwin leading by the same score. With some great interior blocking by the offensive line including Ivan Manoylov and Linton Lattimore, the Braves scored again on a run of five yards by Javonte Edwards, giving Baldwin a 14-0 lead. But then Shaw marched down field,

hitting some key third down passes to cut the score to 14-7 on a 19-yard touchdown pass. At the half, the Braves led by the score of 14-7.

The third quarter belonged to the Shaw Raiders as they scored another 12 unanswered points on two touchdowns, but missed the extra point and two-point conversion attempt.

The third quarter ended with the Braves in very unfamiliar territory, behind 19-14. That’s when Hicks and his team of destiny stood up. After two straight tackles for losses by Javarius Exum, one which was a sack, Exum got just enough of the QB to trip him up in the end zone for a safety. That cut the Raider lead to 19-16. With Baldwin moving the ball on its next possession, they had a fumble that would have broken most team’s back.

Brandon Thomas muffed the punt, but recovered it for a 12-yard gain on the play. Ford followed with three runs of 15, 10 and 14 yards with the last being a touchdown run — his second on the night — putting the Braves up 22-19 after they also bobbled an extra point.

With 3:24 to play, the Raiders tried to come back but were snuffed out when Donte Beckham intercepted the ball on the 18 yard line and returned it over the 50. But with three penalties by both teams on the play, one of which saw a Raider player ejected from the game due to a punch thrown, Baldwin got the ball at their own 12 yard line.

The senior Ford then raced 88 yards for his third and final touchdown of the night.

Ford finished the game with 233 yards rushing.

With 2:05 to go, the Raiders needed a miracle against the best defense in class AAA. But after a Courtney Ingram interception, the Braves moved into the third round of the playoffs.

“Without my O-line, I could not have done it at all tonight,” said Ford after the game.

The defense was led by senior Corrico Hawkins and his 11 tackles and sack. Also for the defense, Beckham had eight tackles to go along with his interception.

With Flowery Branch beating Ridgeland, the Braves will play at home again next week against the Flowery Branch Falcons.

“I knew even when we had the fumble we were going to win this game,” said Hicks. “Darrius Nelson just said ‘coach, run the ball behind me’ and we did and good things happened.”

“Tonight, this team showed it has got what it takes to go all the way. They showed the character of themselves and our program tonight. I am so proud of them.”

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