It was an exciting and high-scoring game between the Baldwin Braves and the top-ranked Troup County Tigers last Thursday night in LaGrange.
But, it was also a disappointing night for the Braves, who lost 63-32, despite putting up big offensive numbers.
Troup had 43 points at halftime and reached its game total by the end of the third quarter. In the first halves of Baldwin’s two losses this season, the Braves have allowed 35 points and 43 points, respectively.
Despite the loss, Baldwin only dropped three places in GHSA postseason rankings and now sits at No. 9. The post-season rankings system is used to determine the playoff brackets, and the top 32 teams in the final rankings advance to the playoffs. So, if the regular season ended today, Baldwin would still be comfortably in the playoffs and hosting a first-round game.
The Braves have only played one home game in September and October, but that’s about to change. Next up are back-to-back games at Braves Stadium against two old middle Georgia powerhouses.
Mary Persons comes to town this Friday night. The Bulldogs are 4-3, but don’t let their record fool you. The Bulldogs currently are ranked No. 12 in Class AAAA post-season rankings and will provide some of the same issues as the Troup County Tigers did. Mary Persons has allowed just 76 points all season, trailing only Peach County and Troup County in the region in that category.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have taken great care of the football, turning it over only twice through seven games. Quarterback Jordan Singleton has passed for 13 touchdowns and only one interception all season and has completed 70 percent of his passes.
The Braves, of course, have a lot of confidence in their offense and quarterback Kamden Patterson, but the defense will have to step up and make the stops to allow their offense to continue to control the game against Mary Persons.
Patterson completed 21-of-35 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns last Thursday against Troup. Running back T.J. Hooks carried the ball 15 times for 122 yards and caught the ball three times for 175receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. In total, Hooks had 297 yards of offense.
Head coach Kevin Patterson said he is proud of his team’s heart from start to finish last Thursday.
“We fight and compete until the final whistle,” Patterson said. “We have to play better on defense.”
But, Patterson added his team’s defense did not play to the level that he expects them to and that a team of the caliber that Troup plays at will exploit those mistakes.
“We didn’t play up to par defensively and they capitalized off of our mistakes which is what a good team is supposed to do," he said.
The Braves’ offense has continued to impress and currently ranks eighth in AAAA in points per game. Patterson ranks fifth in the state in passing yards with 1,894 through seven games. The defense has played well at times this season, holding four opponents to 21 points or less.
Kickoff this Friday night is set for 7:30 p.m. at Braves Stadium.