Salahuddin, Braves silence Aquinas for first road win

Published 11:17 pm Friday, October 18, 2024

AUGUSTA – Junior Sadur Salahuddin scored three touchdowns while defensive lineman Jonquavious Russell got to have a few of those ‘Come to Q’ moments, all leading to the first road win of the 2024 season for Baldwin High football.

In what was the first football meeting ever for the Braves and the Aquinas Fighting Irish, Baldwin claimed the Region 4-AAA slugfest 19-7. Kevin Patterson saw his team get even for the first time in his initial season, 3-3, but most important is the region record that now stands at 3-1. There are no more unbeaten teams in the region, for Westside-Augusta lost to Harlem 24-0 to drop to 4-1; Harlem improving to 3-1. West Laurens is 4-1 after dominating Hephzibah 56-28, and Howard crushed Cross Creek 42-6 to stand at 3-1.

On to Baldwin’s business in Fighting Irish territory, it was a night where coaches on both sides looked to take any and all chances. Some worked; others didn’t. One move that did not pay off early for Baldwin was attempting a fake punt on the game’s opening series. The Braves had 4th-and-8 on the Aquinas 40, direct snapped to Charvez Driskell, but he could only get half of the needed yardage.

Baldwin’s defense was stout against a Fighting Irish offense centered around quarterback Jim Franklin. Russell, for instance, had two stops in the first series for the home team that ended three-and-out.

One more factor to consider in the story of this football contest: the flags. Baldwin running back Kaiden Gibson appeared to have a 74-yard touchdown run going through a massive hole. Somebody in stripes saw – for the fourth time already both teams combined – a false start.

The drive continued, however, with quarterback Lamar Pounds completing first-down passes to Salahuddin and Charlie Warren up to the Aquinas 45-yard-line. From there, Salahuddin scored with the field showing only green colors at 6:06 of the first quarter. Baldwin’s try for two points failed, so the lead stayed 6-0, and it would stay 6-0 all the way until halftime.

There were times when Aquinas showed an advantage in special teams, and late in the first quarter they forced a punt from the Braves that spotted them on the Baldwin 40-yard-line. Gavin Jarrett stopped Franklin on a keeper for 3rd-and-5, then Russell and Ahmad Reeves were on the quarterback for fourth down.

Franklin did execute through the air going for the first down, and the drive continued on the 29. Brandon Dixon of the Braves then made a hit to end the first quarter at 3rd-and-6, and Jarrett started the second with a stop at the line of scrimmage. The Irish went for the first down again, this time Labrayden Burden broke up a deep pass.

One bit of bad news for Baldwin in the first half was an injury to center Jace Powell. His team found a suitable backup as Pounds got a first-down keeper run to the 42 and Salahuddin powered his way over midfield to move the chains to the Irish 47. Salahuddin broke another run that included a face-mask foul, and from inside the ‘red zone’ Pounds hit Jaylen King on the 9.

On 3rd-and-goal from the 13, Baldwin tried a flanker option pass, but the first throw of the play was ruled forward. It was fourth down at the 18, and the Braves tried a field goal that fell short. Still, half of the second quarter time elapsed.

Franklin overcame a sack by Jarrett and Russell to get a first down on his 48-yard-line. And even as Russell and Reeves sent Aquinas back on one play afterwards, Franklin recovered to hit a big third-down pass play on the Baldwin 18. There was less than a minute to play in the half, and with Russell’s help the Irish were going backwards to the 29. Jonathan Simpson ran Franklin out of bounds on third down, then the Braves broke up his fourth-down throw at the 27-second mark.

Aquinas had the first series of the second half, looking to score for the first time since the second quarter of last weekend’s 12-7 over Harlem. That drive went nowhere, but there was potential on the second one as a punt only went 18 yards. The Irish began at the Braves 46 and drove up to the 29 when it was another fourth-down decision for the home team. Franklin went on the run and broke tackles all the way to the 2.

He gave the football to freshman Eli Hutchinson on second down, and he fumbled it away, Baldwin ball on the 2.

Due to some sloppy play, the Braves found themselves at fourth down on the 23 and punted. The football stayed on their side of the field for the Aquinas offense. Who was there to prevent a first down on four snaps but ‘Q’ Russell plus Jarrett, and possession went back to the Braves at the 30.

Baldwin finally extended the 6-0 lead as Pounds play-faked to Salahuddin and found King for a completion at the Irish 22. Pounds then made a first-and-goal run to the 9 to end the third quarter.

The first play of the fourth was a ‘wildcat’ snap to Salahuddin, who scored his second touchdown. Josh Rhodes kicked the PAT through for the 13-0 lead.

Garrett’s big game on defense continued by forcing the Irish to fall on a fumble, and Russell and Brandon Whisby sacked Franklin to flip the football back to the offense with 9:19 to play. In that time, there was more offensive production than all the minutes before it, and it was Aquinas, getting the ball back on a three-and-out punt, who tightened the game up with a series beginning on its 31.

Franklin got grabbed by the facemask on a run to the Braves 25, then threw the football complete for a touchdown at 5:22. The hosts brought the score to 13-7, but didn’t do the onside kickoff far enough. That gave the Braves only 46 yards to cover looking for an answer.

In a four-play drive of less than a minute, King had a first-down catch on the 36, then Salahuddin carried three snaps in a row, the third for eight yards and his third touchdown. Aquinas blocked the PAT kick, but Baldwin was on its way to victory at 19-7.

Jazz Lamar, Whisby and Reeves shut down the final Fight of the Irish.