The Baldwin Braves dominated the Cross Creek Razorbacks for their first win of the season last Friday at Braves Field in Milledgeville. The Braves won 51-22, marking their largest margin of victory since beating Griffin 47-14 in 2022.
Last Friday’s 29-point margin of victory was an impressive way to begin region play, and what the Braves hope will be a tonesetter for the rest of the season.
By halftime, Baldwin was up 39-6 over the Augusta- based Razorbacks, led by Braves running back Sadur Salahuddin and quarterback LJ Pounds, who both contributed to the Braves’ offense in a dominant first half.
With four minutes to go in the first half, Pounds also connected with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Stanton.
That play was topped, however, after the Braves’ defense forced a turnover on downs in the final minute of the half and Pounds initiated an unbelievable play that lateraled the ball to Jaylen King, who passed the ball to Johnathan Butts for an 89-yard touchdown to end the first half with Baldwin leading the Razorbacks by 33 points.
To its credit, Cross Creek made a run at a comeback and outscored Baldwin 16-12 in the second half, but the Braves did more than enough to seal their first victory of the 2024 season in a rout of the Razorbacks.
Baldwin will hit the road this Friday for a tough battle with the 2-0 Harlem Bulldogs. Harlem is one of six new foes in the Braves’ region for the 2024 season and the Bulldogs proved to be a good team last year by going all the way to the region title game.
The Bulldogs lost to Morgan County 35-21 in the Region 4 AAA championship game last season and finished with a 7-5 overall record with a loss in the first round of the AAA state playoffs to Thomasville.
Kickoff will be this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Harlem High School.