The Baldwin Braves kicked off their 2022 football season hosting a scrimmage against the Tattnall County Warriors last Friday night.
The class 4-A Braves matched up well against the class 2-A Warriors in a game that was used by each coaching staff to evaluate their team’s strengths and weaknesses coming out of summer camp.
The first half included varsity starters and role players getting reps, while the second half featured mostly second and third string guys.
After attending the scrimmage at Braves Stadium, here are my takeaways heading into their season-opener against Peach County on Aug. 19.
Coaching:
Baldwin is fortunate to have one of the most experienced head coaches in the state of Georgia.
Jesse Hicks is heading into his 21st year as a head coach, and his 14th season with the Braves. In his tenure with the program, he’s racked up an overall record of 100-48 (67.5%).
His coaching methods have led to three region championships and 12 state playoff appearances with their deepest run coming in 2005 when the Braves reached the semifinals.
Hicks has only had one losing season while at Baldwin and nothing from the scrimmage suggests he’ll have his second this year.
Athleticism:
The Braves have some dogs on both sides of the ball.
Junior running back Micah Welch highlights Baldwin’s run game with speed and agility on the outside. Welch has received offers from Georgia Tech, Louisville, NC State and a few others, and has interest from schools like Georgia and Florida State.
He’s paired with fellow class of 2024 athlete Solomon Burney who is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound quarterback with great arm strength effective in the team’s spread offense.
Defensively, almost all 11 players on the field fly to the ball. The Braves ability to pursue ball-carriers makes them a dangerous group for opposing offenses to face.
Even though the score wasn’t kept, Baldwin held Tattnall County in their own half for most of the contest.
Atmosphere:
For a preseason scrimmage, Braves stadium had the energy necessary to make the opposition feel uncomfortable playing there.
The fans filled up three-quarters of the home-side stands and weren’t afraid to voice their opinions. Players seem to thrive off the support, and it translates on the field with aggressive play on both sides of the ball.
However, a point of emphasis is on the team’s ability to maintain that level of aggression.
At some points during the contest when things didn’t go as planned, players seemed to allow that to affect their play. Going forward, the Braves’ mental fortitude will either help or hurt their chances of making a deep playoff run.
Lasting Impressions
Overall, Baldwin seemed to be ready for the challenge of their non-region gauntlet that will begin their season.
With a manageable region, Hicks and the Braves may very well find themselves in the state playoffs again with an opportunity to make it further than they did last year.