COACH’S FORUM - Baldwin

COACH’S FORUM - Baldwin

Baldwin vs. Episcopal

"LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD!" Those were my final words to the team before leaving the locker room before the game. After four quarters of football, I realized that we did just that. Our kids were tired, give out, and sore. That was the evidence that they played their hearts out for 48 minutes of football. The bad news was that the scoreboard showed us to be on the losing end. Episcopal came out and played just as hard and just as good. The final score was 14 to 7, but that score alone doesn't say how hard fought and close the game actually was.

Our kids were well aware that this game would be the biggest they had ever played in. They knew a win and we would have the upper hand in our district. However, two early fumbles and an interception kept us from getting on the scoreboard in the first half, but after giving up 14 quick points in the first quarter, we were able to settle down and the game went back and forth the rest of the first half. At halftime, we made our adjustments and the second half we were the more physical and more aggressive team. We were able to cut Episcopal's lead in half when quarterback Kentrall Mims scored on an option keep around left end. That scoring drive was made possible with runs by Cody Ziegler and Jimmy Giffin along with some key receptions by Tyrone Jones and Greg Aikens. However, none of our offensive success (almost 300 yards of total offense) would have been possible without a solid performance from our offensive line of C.J. Crews, Travis Hufstetler, Zach Halifko, Taylor Hogan, Caleb Collins, and Mike Mullis. During the fourth quarter, we continued to move the ball up and down the field only to make a mistake time and time again stopping our drives and keeping us from evening up the score. Still, with all our mistakes we still had a chance at the end of the game but failed to convert a fourth down. Our defense, led my nose-tackle Chad Stacy, played well throughout the game. They held a very good Episcopal offense to just 14 points and made key plays over and over that allowed us to stay in the game. Still, the end result was a loss for the Indians even though we did "Leave it all on the field."

Now, we have to prove we are down but not out. We have to regroup and play a much improving Creekside High School out of St. John's County for homecoming. We must prove we are still a top caliber team and still have everything to play for. We must hold our heads up high and continue to be a physical hard-nosed team ready for anything that comes our way. Hope to see everyone at the homecoming game Friday night.

GO INDIANS!!