Renews rivalry against Dublin in dramatic fashion
Renews rivalry against Dublin in dramatic fashion
It took the Baldwin Braves 56 years to get their third all-time win over the Dublin Fighting Irish, and they did it last Friday night in Dublin with a dramatic 20-14 victory.
The Braves and Irish renewed their rivalry for the first time since 1975 in what turned out to be one of the most thrilling game in the series’ history. Baldwin took its first and only lead of the night when quarterback Kamden Patterson connected with wide receiver Justin Burton for a 67-yard, game-winning touchdown in the final minute. Burton finished the night with 128 yards receiving and one score.
The win also gave Baldwin its first 3-0 start since 2020 when the Braves put together a 5-2 record and a second-round finish in the GHSA 4A state playoffs. The victory also catapulted Baldwin into The Atlanta-Journal Constitution’s GHSA Class AAAA state rankings at number 10 for the first time since Sep. 22, 2023, when they also briefly ranked 10th before a 34-0 loss to Spalding.
Head coach Kevin Patterson said he was proud of his players for proving they can compete against some of the best football teams in Georgia.
“I was proud and happy for my team for battling and overcoming adversity,” Patterson said. “We have worked extremely hard to win these types of games. There was a lot of excitement and Baldwin pride after the win. We certainly enjoyed the moment and tried to take it all in.”
However, it wasn’t just a big win because of how long it has been since the Braves beat the Irish; it mattered because of what it said about the direction of Patterson’s program and what the Braves are capable of becoming.
“I think it reassured (our players) that when we play as a team for four quarters, and we put our best foot forward from a practice and work-ethic standpoint, that we are capable of anything,” he said. 'I thought it was a great team victory that everyone contributed to. I think going into the bye week, 3-0 is huge for our momentum and confidence. Now we have to learn how to deal with having success. We won’t be surprising anybody else, so we can’t get big-headed and lose sight of the details and hard work that has been put in.”
Perhaps the most important part of the win for Baldwin was its defense, which until last Friday remained the Braves’ biggest question mark. Despite staying in the win column, Baldwin had allowed 46 points through two games entering the matchup. However, against Dublin’s wing-t offense, the Braves held the Irish to just two firsthalf touchdowns, with zero points scored in the second half.
“I thought they played hard all night,” Patterson said of his defense. “I thought they were superb besides a few mishaps.
They had a great week of practice, and they were focused. We did a great job of tackling, creating turnovers, and playing with passion. It takes those types of details to win big ballgames. There was no selfishness; everyone took pride in doing their job.”
The Braves will now take advantage of their bye week to recover and prepare for the Sept. 18 region opener in Macon against Howard.