Turnovers mar Baldwin’s road trip

Published 11:05 pm Friday, September 13, 2024

One bye week was about penalties, but the next one is likely to be about ball security, especially so close to the goal line.

Harlem High intercepted three Baldwin High passes in the first half Friday of a key Region 4-AAA football game in Columbia County. Even though the Braves shut down the Bulldog offense in the second half, Harlem’s 17-0 halftime lead proved just enough as the home team overcame its own giveaway in the closing minutes to prevail 17-14.

Head coach Kevin Patterson said afterwards it was still about too many penalties in addition to the “uncharacteristic” turnovers.

“We played hard,” he said. “Can’t shoot ourselves in the foot.”

Patterson said they made the right adjustments defensively to keep Harlem off the scoreboard.

Baldwin running back Sadur Salahuddin is becoming known this season for late-game scoring heroics as he had two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the Braves’ 13-12 loss at home to Northside High on Aug. 23. Three weeks later, the junior punches in a seven-yard rushing touchdown with under four minutes left in regulation. That and Josh Rhodes’ extra-point kick brought the visitors to what would be the 17-14 final.

“We are going to fight for four quarters,” said Patterson, noting again how this has happened already this young season. “I’m happy about that.”

There was time for the Baldwin defense to make one more stand, and Harlem punted for about the fourth time in the second half (in another instance early in the third quarter, the Bulldogs lost possession by failing to convert a fourth down on Baldwin’s 33-yard-line). There were no Baldwin turnovers in the second half until a fumble of the punt return gave possession back to the Bulldogs.

Patterson said Harlem was seeking more points and was on Baldwin’s 18 when it coughed up the football on the 35.

Time, however, was not on the Braves’ side. They got a pair of first downs and was on Harlem’s side of the 50 before the buzzer sounded.

Jayden Futrell of Harlem had two interceptions plus a touchdown catch in the first half. Will Holder of Harlem accounted for the game’s first points making a 34-yard field goal.

Two of the interceptions from the Bulldogs came inside their own 10-yard-line. Yards, then, were not the problem for the Braves as they went from their 15 up to the ‘red zone’ with just under a minute left in the opening quarter. It was still 3-0 to start the second when Futrell picked off a pass at the 5.

Harlem turned that pick into points as Baylor Davis executed a run to the Braves’ 23, then quarterback Giovanni Arroyo scored the touchdown on the run from four yards out. That took the game to the halfway mark of the quarter at 10-0.

Baldwin found itself back into the Bulldog ‘red zone’ on the ensuing drive, but this time Ronald Oliver made the interception on the 9. When the Braves got the football back on a punt, Futrell recorded his second INT, this one giving his team more favorable field position on the BHS 31. With less than a minute to go before the break, he scored on a 10-yard pass.

In the third quarter, when the Braves’ defense held Harlem on downs, the next drive for the offense began on the BHS 33. For the third time, Baldwin entered that ‘red zone.’ The catch made from quarterback Lamar Pounds this time was more friendly, Kielen Walker scoring on a 17-yard connection. It was late in the third, but with the Rhodes PAT Baldwin was in the game 17-7.

In the fourth quarter, Baldwin lost its first possession on downs and had to start a drive when the Bulldogs punted to the BHS 4. Two more punts followed, and Salahuddin completed a 65-yard drive with his touchdown run.

Baldwin is getting its second and final bye of the 2024 season for the weekend of Sept. 20. The next game action, again in Region 4-AAA, will be Sept. 27 at home against a closer rival in West Laurens. At 1-1 in the region and 1-3 overall, Patterson said the Braves need to take a ‘need to win out’ approach and handle their business in the remaining six contests.