After beating Carver Columbus last week 22-0, talk of state championships and going to the dome filled the air around Braves Field, but Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks was quick to point out that four wins does not equal a title and there is plenty of season left to play.

“They have to realize that it’s just the fourth game of the season and if we lose three region games, we don’t go to the playoffs. You tell them great job guys, but you have to keep your focus,” Hicks said. “We have to get better every week and as a coach you do that by picking up the training on Monday when you have a game on Friday. Let them understand that the state championship game is still 11 games away.”

The Braves head to West Laurens this week to face a 3-1 Raiders team that has won three straight after falling to S. Effingham 21-0 in the season opener.

Hicks has confidence in his team’s abilities, but knows that the No. 2 ranking in Class AAA is only going to bring on tougher opponents.

“Now the region starts and the bullseye is on your back because every team that you play is going to bring its A game against you. Every coach is going to say, ‘you can salvage your season by beating Baldwin’ So we have to mentally be prepared and physically be prepared to go to battle every day.”

On offense West Laurens runs a veer and option out of the double wing and so the Braves defense will have to be careful.

“Any time someone runs the option, that means you have to be very disciplined because if you miss an assignment, that’s the difference between six points. We’ve been working on it all week. They’ve got some great skill guys. I know when they get the ball in their hands, they can make some things happen.”

However, after shutting out Carver last week, the team should be up to the challenge.

“I feel real good about our guys defensively. Especially after last week when we shut out one of the better football teams in the state of Georgia. I think it speaks volumes to them, but every week is a new challenge. We just have to remain focused on that.”

The Braves running game has flourished the past couple weeks with Javonte Edwards bursting on to the scene. Jerrico Ford is still questionable for this week after hurting his ankle last Friday, but Kelvin Simmons will return to the field after getting suspended for last weeks game when he and a Peach Co. player got into an altercation.

“It will be nice to have Kelvin Simmons back. He’ll have fresh legs. And what can you say about Javonte Edwards. He has been a breath of fresh air and all it does is breed competition between the backs.”

Some would see having three capable backs as a problem, but Hicks sees only good depth and an advantage the Braves can use to stay fresh.

“People want to say we have a controversy. But we don’t have controversy, we’ve got a great thing going on. I’ve got three quality football players and we’ll rotate them and run them.”

The tailbacks and the rest of the Braves offense will be facing a 4-3 Raiders defense that will play man coverage, blitz a little bit and use the safety to help stop the run by putting him in the box at times.

“We’ve been so successful with the power and the lead, that you have to do those things. But they’re not going to back up. They’re at home against the No. 2 team in the state. They’re going to be tough.”