a 3A school. The Seminoles were just 6-5 last year, but have demonstrated that they are
a winning program as well. The Braves’ next region opponent has shown to be quite the
opposite. The Rutland Hurricanes have only one winning season in the last 10 years and
were winless in 2018. They finished last year at just 2-8. Next up for BHS will be the West
Laurens Raiders who were 11-2 in 2019 after making it to the state quarterfinals. Their
season was ended by 4A champ Blessed Trinity, the same team that knocked Baldwin
out in the second round. Blessed Trinity has won the last three 4A state titles, but is now
reclassified as a 5A school so a new program will hold that title later this year. But back
to the BHS schedule, West Laurens has not had a losing season since 2014. Baldwin has
the upper hand in the all-time series against the Raiders 7-3, but the last time the schools
met was 2015. West Laurens won the Region 2-4A crown last year, and four of that region’s
members make up the new Region 4-4A.
The Braves’ final regular-season stretch consists of Howard, Spalding and Perry, in
that order. Two out of those three matchups will be on the road. The Howard Huskies
were 5-5 last year, but only 1-4 in the region, placing them outside the playoff picture.
Spalding won only one game all last season while losing lopsidedly to the teams they will
see again in region play in 2020. Perry was the closest challenger to West Laurens for
the region title a year ago based on record, but when the teams met in the regular-season
finale the Raiders blasted the Panthers 36-2.
The GHSA football season was pushed back a couple weeks to give programs more
time to prepare since many had to shut down for a period of time due to having positive
COVID-19 cases at workouts. The state championship games will now be held between
Christmas and New Year’s Day.
“
I’m planning
to be ready
for whatever
God gives
us, and hopefully,
that’s
a season of
football and
sports.
“
- Coach Jesse Hicks
we hope you
all have a
successful season.
“Good Luck!”
-From your friends at
Member
FDIC
478-452-4531
www.exch.bank
414863-1
Football Preview 2020 15