>> BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL
After a disappointing 2022 season, Baldwin started 2023 with a win over Peach County last Friday. The Braves traveled down to Fort Valley and left with a 34-13 victory over the Class AAA Trojans.
Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks said he liked what he saw from his players in the 2023 season opener.
“Going back to last year, everything [we do] is about execution. We’ve had a huge buy-in from our kids from last December until Friday. Our guys have done that,” Hicks said. “It’s been on the field and in the weight room, too. Our guys are really physical and want to play that brand of football.”
The Braves executed well and were physical in Fort Valley. Their offensive explosion was sparked by running backs Micah Welch and Sadur Salahuddin, who each rushed for over 100 yards.
Welch, a Class 4A Preseason All-State selection and Colorado commit, led Baldwin in rushing with two touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back also had an 88-yard kick return for a score. Salahuddin is only a sophomore but was just as physical and dominant against the Trojans.
Hicks said Welch is the center of his team’s offense, but the Braves have multiple other weapons, including Salahuddin, quarterback Lamar Pounds, plus wideouts Armontae Palmer and Jacobe Jackson.
“A thing that a lot of people get misconstrued about our football team is that if you stop Micah, which isn’t easy to do, you’re going to be able to stop us offensively. But we’ve got multiple weapons on that side [of the ball],” Hicks said. “Lamar, our quarterback, does a great job of getting the ball to different players. We had two backs over 100 yards in Micah and Sadur Salahuddin, who had an awesome night. Lamar was also throwing the ball to Jacobe Jackson and Armontae, too.”
Hicks credited his team’s offensive success and defensive prowess to his players up front in the trenches.
“We were able to spread the ball around pretty good, but all that starts up front,” Hicks said. “We have very good offensive and defensive lines, probably the best since our trip to the Georgia Dome in 2005 when we had two SEC linemen on the team. I think this year’s offensive line is extremely young, with three of those guys being tenth graders, but they seem to be the most stable. So, our offensive and defensive lines are really the ones that are guiding us right now.”
Welch scored the game’s first two touchdowns before senior defensive back Yauri Calixte picked off a Trojans’ pass late in the second quarter. He then returned it for six, giving the Braves a 20-0 lead.
The Trojans scored on the opening drive of the second half, with senior Dwayne Coleman scoring from a few yards out. However, even after it seemed like Peach County was going to mount a comeback, Welch sucked the life out of the Trojans with his 88-yard kickoff return for a score.
That was the nail in the coffin for the contest, despite both teams reaching the end zone one more time each. The momentum shifted back in the Braves’ favor for good when Welch crossed the goal line.
Overall, Hicks was impressed with how his team faired against the Trojans. The longtime Baldwin head coach reiterated how important physicality is in the game and how it was on full display Friday.
“There’s nothing like being physical,” he said. “If you’re not used to playing that brand of football, you’ll have to step up and stop it. I’m really happy with what our players and staff have done.”
Baldwin hopes to continue its winning streak at home on Friday against border rival Putnam County. The War Eagles defeated the Braves 23-14 last year in each team’s opener at Al Reaves Field. Hicks and his team have a lot of respect for Putnam County and new head coach Joel Harvin. He said the War Eagles are another physical team and his guys can’t wait to step onto the field with them.
“I think that plays right into what we want to do, to be honest with you. Our guys want to be physical; they like when you attempt to run the ball,” Hicks said. “We don’t see much Wing-T in this area of the state, but I know they’ll be running it and our guys are going to step up to the challenge.”
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Braves Field in Milledgeville.