Baldwin’s first loss came last Friday night to defending Class 5A state champion Ware County. The Gators defeated the Braves 48-20 in Waycross.
Baldwin hosted Ware County last season and lost 41-3 to the eventual state champs, which went 14-0 in 2022.
This year, hot off a pair of big wins, Baldwin arrived in Waycross hoping to make the long trip one to remember by pulling off a big upset, but Friday wasn’t the Braves’ night. Baldwin lost in a valiant effort against one of the state’s top teams.
Baldwin struggled from the start, giving up a rushing touchdown about halfway through the opening quarter and being forced to battle from behind.
Junior quarterback Lamar Pounds would help the Braves pick up a first down but soon after gave the ball back to Ware with an interception that turned into three points for the Gators on a field goal.
With Ware County leading 10-0, Pounds again gave the Braves some energy with a long pass completion to Armonte Palmer for a touchdown, but the extra-point attempt missed.
Both teams exchanged possessions in the second quarter, but Ware County would again score about four minutes into the quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass to gain a 17-6 lead.
Ware scored through the air again on its next possession, then essentially put the game away a minute later with a pick-six, followed by the extra point for a 31-6 advantage.
Ware scored one more rushing touchdown in the final minute of the half, giving the Gators a commanding 38-6 lead.
Once the game resumed, Baldwin managed to hold Ware to just a short field goal in its first possession and a single rushing score about halfway through the third quarter to reach the 48-20 final.
Though Baldwin clearly struggled against a bigger program they fared much better than year against the Gators, who remain one of the state’s top teams.