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  • TIME JUST RAN OUT: Baldwin High tailback Brandon Thomas ran the ball well Friday night versus Cairo, but the Braves were ultimately defeated 9-7. David Brent Martin

    Braves stunned at home by Cairo

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November 21, 2009

Braves stunned at home by Cairo

Late-game heroics by Baldwin’s Jose Solomon are nullified by a referee’s call as Braves lose a dogfight to the defending state champion Syrupmakers, 9-7

David Brent Martin

Oh, how dreams can shatter in an instance.

Baldwin High’s home stadium was ripe Friday night with cheerful vibes and a large crowd came out in droves, hoping to catch a glimpse of a hard fought game between two AAA powerhouses. In the end, the Braves (9-3) would come out on the short end of a gripping and dramatic 9-7 defeat — and it was a game not without controversy.

Trailing 9-7 late in the fourth quarter, the Region 3-AAA Braves would have opportunities to pull ahead of the defending champion Syrupmakers (9-3) from Cairo. Both teams pounded each other with steady ground games throughout the contest, but Baldwin would ultimately run out of gas after failing to capitalize in the red zone on more than one occasion.

The Braves received stout rushing performances from Milline, DeAndre Thomas, Brandon Thomas and Altovise Harris, but the team was unable to crack the end zone after a punishing attack by the Syrupmakers defense in the first half of play.

Cairo was a hungry team, packed a large crowd — and obviously had some of that winning desire that trickled over from last season.

The Braves were equally as determined and would scratch back into the game with a four-yard scoring run by quarterback DeAndre Thomas with 6:25 to go in the game, cutting the lead, 9-7.

Baldwin’s Solomon would later come back on the Syrupmakers’ final offensive drive and scoop up a fumble and race 74 yards for the apparent go-ahead score. But an official would rule Solomon down, and the Braves would later turn the ball over with an interception — ending their season at 9-3.

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