>> BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL
The Baldin Braves and the Putnam County War Eagles faced off last Friday at Braves Field in Milledgeville. Though only 20 miles separate the two schools’ stadiums, they have met only nine times ever.
Before last Friday, Putnam led the series 4-3-1 all-time, but Baldwin evened up the series with a convincing 33-13 victory.
Baldwin looked to its defense in the first half and held Putnam off the scoreboard in its season opener while the Braves offense scored a pair of touchdowns.
Running back Micah Welch also had a 16-yard run for the end zone but was called out at the corner in a controversial call by the referees.
Regardless, quarterback Lamar Pounds scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to give the Braves a 7-0 lead after the extra point. Baldwin then forced Putnam to punt on its next drive, but the War Eagles punter fumbled the ball, allowing Baldwin’s Jaylen King to recover and run it in for a 30-yard touchdown and give the Braves a 13-0 lead after the extra point missed.
Early in the third quarter, Welch scored his first TD of the game on a 44-yard run, and in the final quarter, he ran 54 yards for the game-sealing score to give the Braves a 33-13 victory.
The Braves used a heavy dose of the run game to beat Putnam, rushing for 249 yards and only 44 passing yards. Meanwhile, Baldwin’s defense held the War Eagles to 82 passing yards and 173 rushing yards on the night.
Baldwin also had a good night on third downs, converting on 5 of 8 third downs they held, while allowing only three Putnam County third-down conversions of the 12 it faced.
Welch finished the night with 206 yards rushing and two touchdowns in his second consecutive game with a rushing touchdown. King was named team defensive player of the week after his major fumble recovery for a TD.
After beating Peach County 34-13 a week earlier in its season opener, Baldwin faces the also 2-0 Ware County Gators this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Waycross.