After picking up their first win a week earlier, the Baldwin Braves (1-3) lost 17-14 on the road Friday night to the Harlem Bulldogs (3-0).
It wasn’t a close first half as the Bulldogs led the Braves 17-0 at halftime, but a spirited Braves team mounted a second-half comeback that fell just three points shy of tying the game and sending the game to overtime.
Baldwin quarterback LJ Pounds had one passing touchdown in the Braves’ second drive of the third quarter and Sadur Salahuddin scored Baldwin’s second touchdown on a 7-yard carry in the final quarter. Baldwin’s defense played well early, forcing a punt on Harlem’s first offensive drive. Meanwhile the Braves’ offense struggled and punted back to the Bulldogs, who capitalized with a field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the opening quarter.
The second quarter was all Bulldogs as Harlem put together two touchdown drives on three possessions. All three of Harlem’s possessions came after Pounds had his passes intercepted by Bulldog defenders.
Pounds recovered from his rough second quarter with a 17-yard pass to Kielan Walker for a touchdown late in the third that cut Harlem’s lead to 17-7 after kicker Josh Rhodes added the point after.
Salahuddin’s rushing touchdown with about three minutes left in the game was followed by another extra point from Rhodes, but the Bulldogs held on for the rest of the game.
Baldwin is now 1-1 in region play and has scored the second-most, in-region points (65) so far this season. The Brave’s defense has struggled overall, however, allowing 39 points against so far in region play.
Baldwin has the next two weeks off to prepare for its trip to Augusta Oct. 4, for another important region match against Academy of Richmond County. The Musketeers currently sit 0-4 on the season and will play Cross Creek and Harlem before hosting the Braves.