It was homecoming last Friday night on ABC Drive, where Baldwin coasted to a 26-0 victory over lowly Upson-Lee.
The Knights are now 0-6 and have scored one touchdown all season. The Braves, meanwhile, are 5-1 and ranked sixth in the GHSA Class AAAA postseason rankings, the system used to determine the playoff bracket these days.
For the previous 60-something years, playoff teams were determined by region records, and the four teams in each region with the best region records at the end of the regular season advanced to the state playoffs.
The change to the post-season ranking system has been very beneficial for Baldwin. Under the old system, the Braves would be fourth in the region right now and barely hanging on to a playoff spot, due to an upset loss last month at Howard.
Instead, the Braves are ranked sixth in the state and comfortably in the playoffs.
The row to hoe soon will become much tougher for Baldwin, however.
Following a bye this Friday, the Braves will head to the Georgia/ Alabama border for a matchup with Troup County, currently ranked No. 1 in the AAAA postseason rankings. After that will be two of the biggest home games at Braves Stadium in years. Mary Persons, one of the most tradition-rich programs in this part of Georgia, comes to town on Oct. 23.
Then, the night before Halloween, is the really big one, as Peach County comes to Milledgeville.
Peach currently is undefeated and riding high, ranked No. 3.
The ground attack carried Baldwin’s offense against Upson-Lee, as junior running back T.J.
Hooks rushed for 194 yards.
Quarterback Kamden Patterson, by his standards, had an off night, completing 17-29 for 164 yards and two touchdown passes. Contrast that to Baldwin’s previous game against Westside, when Patterson threw for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns.
Also with a big night was senior B.J.
Armstrong, who was named homecoming king before the game.
Armstrong then stashed away his crown, came back out onto the field and proceeded to rush for a touchdown and intercept an Upson-Lee pass.
The Knights finished with –24 yards rushing and 128 yards passing.