Braves season comes to halt as Peach rolls

Published 11:04 am Monday, November 25, 2024

FT. VALLEY – All Peach County. No, it’s not a listing of the best football players in Trojan football history, but some of them were on display Friday on a team looking to add to the championship lore of the 21st Century.

There was, unfortunately, little resistance in the second round of the Georgia High School Association Class AAA playoffs when the Baldwin High Braves rolled into town fresh off a miracle first-round victory at home over West Laurens. Host Peach County was the only one to reach the end zone and did so enough to leave no doubt of a win, 37-3, setting up a quarterfinal game at home this weekend against Calhoun High.

For Baldwin High (7-5), it ends a successful yet unusual first season for head coach Kevin Patterson. One of the main goals was to have a playoff game at home, and the Braves both got it and won it over WLHS on a Brandon Whisby blocked field goal. Baldwin placed second in a region in a season that will be remembered for the schedule shuffling after Helene brushed through Georgia giving the program a whole month between games then three region games in 10 days.

Sometimes a big mistake at the start of a football game doesn’t spell disaster for the rest of the night; sometimes … the Braves had the football first yet only ran one scrimmage play that resulted in a lost fumble.

Peach was on the Baldwin 35-yard-line and in a hurry-up offense turned the takeaway into points. The Trojans did have to work for them, including a 3rd-and-9 conversion set up by Braves linebacker Jazz Lamar. But with a pass-catch and broken tackles, the 10-yard gain moved the sticks to the 14.

The Trojans also had a touchdown taken away from a holding call, but on 2nd-and-16 at the 20 D.J. Hudson’s pass found Zion Hudson for the touchdown at 9:48.

Baldwin avoided turnovers after the first one, and with a second try gained three first downs from runs by Sadur Salahuddin and Kielan Walker. They moved up to the Peach 21-yard-line before penalties moved the football the other way and forced a punt.

In six plays, Peach County went 80 yards (really 88 after another hold) all on the ground. The quarterback Hudson did a left-to-right sideline scramble and scored a 28-yard touchdown at 4:30 of the opening period.

The Baldwin offense was not without first downs, quarterback Lamar Pounds gaining two with his legs and a pass to tight end Jaylen “Boom” King. This drive got to the Trojan 37 before stalling out.

The third possession for Peach County became its third touchdown. While members of the Braves secondary (Brandon Dixon and LaBraydon Burden) had their moments, the Trojans always came back with a big strike, like Hudson’s deep throw of 38 yards to end the first quarter.

Two plays into the second quarter, from the Baldwin 11, Hudson connected with Ethan Johnson on a touchdown for a 21-0 lead.

The only points for the Braves were on a Josh Rhodes field goal of 28 yards. Baldwin started the scoring series on its 25, and Pounds’ play-action throw to Walker had a lot of YAC for 49 to the PC 12.

The best way the further cut into the three-possession lead was to onside kick, which Baldwin successful pulled off. But in their efforts to get more points, a 4th-and-4 call came up inches short of a crucial first down.

Peach took over and was driving into Braves territory when Jonquavious ‘Q’ Russell sacked Hudson for a 4th-and 12 situation on the 44. Not only did the Trojans go for it, but Hudson broke containment to break the Baldwin backs on a touchdown run to make it 27-3.

There was still 4:16 before halftime. Though Baldwin’s offense ran eight plays to get back over the 50, when Peach retained possession on downs it would go 66 yards in eight plays. The second Hudson-to-Hudson touchdown connection covered 15 yards and came with 30 seconds remaining.

The only scoring of the second half was Angel Rodriguez’ 24-yard field goal for PCHS at 9:20 of the third period.