>> BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL
At home in Milledgeville, the Baldwin Braves won their most tightly contested game of the year last Friday beating Howard 20-19 to improve 4-2 on the season. Both teams entered the matchup at 3-2, and both were in their first region game of the season.
Each team had a slow start last Friday, with only a 3-point field goal put on the board by Howard in the first quarter.
The Braves finally scored on a passing play in the final minute of the second quarter but missed the extra point to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.
Howard received the ball to start the second half but sputtered and punted back to the Braves, who also failed to score, giving Howard a prime opportunity to take back the lead.
The Huskies drove down the field and scored on a touchdown pass to take a 10-6 lead after adding the PAT.
Late in the third quarter, the Braves scored their second touchdown of the night as Micah Welch carried the ball in to give Baldwin a 12-10 lead. The Braves tried for a two-point conversion, but the Howard defense held strong.
Howard was able to put together a drive and kicked a field goal about three minutes into the final quarter to reclaim a 13-12 lead.
It was short-lived, however, as Baldwin answered with a touchdown drive capped by a Lamar Pounds touchdown pass. The Braves again went for a two-point conversion and this time it worked to take a 20-13 lead with two minutes left in the game.
Howard was able to put together one final touchdown drive, but a missed extra point cost it any shot at tying the game to send it to overtime.
The Braves won with a 20-19 final score, led by Welch with 19 carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
The Braves have a bye this Friday but return to action Oct. 13 when they head to Perry to play the Perry Panthers, currently ranked fourth in Class 4A.