Baldwin ? Penalties are never good in a close game, and Baldwin High found out firsthand in a 28-20 loss Friday to Paola.

The Bulldogs (1-1) committed nine penalties for 80 yards, but none were as costly as a holding call early in the third quarter that negated a 78-yard run by running back Micah Mason.

“I thought we came into the game with a good game plan, and the kids really executed, but then the mistakes came,” Baldwin coach Mike Berg said.

Sloppy ball handling didn’t help. The Bulldogs lost four of five fumbles, making for a frustrating night at Liston Stadium.

“Turnovers really killed us,” Mason said, “but what Coach keeps telling us is we can’t point the finger at one person.”

Baldwin was up 12-0 going into after short touchdown runs by Mason and senior quarterback Jason Kesinger but gave up four unanswered touchdowns in 23 minutes, two of which came on one-yard runs by Paola junior quarterback Josh Strong.

In its last two scoring drives, Paola (2-0) started from Baldwin’s 22- and 13-yard lines after Bulldog fumbles.

“We shot ourselves in the foot when we were up,” Kesinger said. “We just had too many mistakes tonight.”

Baldwin tried to rally with 2:32 left. Kesinger scrambled for a four-yard TD, but a successful two-point conversion throw to senior fullback Brian Turk was too little, too late.

Baldwin High quarterback Jason Kesinger eludes a Paola linebacker in the first half. Baldwin lost to Paola, 28-20, Friday at Liston Stadium.

Mason finished with 141 yards on 15 carries, including 138 in the first half as he bulldozed through Panther defenders –often three at a time– before cramping up with 8:32 left in the third quarter. Paola finished with just 11 more rushing yards than Mason on 35 more carries.

The Bulldogs put up 275 total yards compared to Paola’s 196. The Panthers weren’t clean, committing nine penalties for 135 yards including one that negated a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior Noah Dumpert.

Despite Baldwin’s many miscues, Berg didn’t blame the loss on individuals.

“It’s a total team effort,” Berg said. “It’s nobody’s fault. A few mistakes kept us from being on top.”

Baldwin travels Friday to Gardner-Edgerton.

Paola 28, Baldwin 20

Paola High running back Nathan Payne (3) is stopped by Baldwin defenders Austin Inzer (34) and Kyle Flory.

Paola 0 7 7 14 — 28

Baldwin 6 6 0 8 — 20

First quarter

B–Kesinger 1 run (Thomas kick failed).

Second quarter

B–Mason 4 run (Thomas kick failed).

P–Smith 2 run (Onofrio kick).

Third quarter

P–Strong 1 run (Onofrio kick).

Fourth quarter

P–Strong 1 run (Onofrio kick).

P–Domnanish 7 pass from Strong (Onofrio kick).

B–Kesinger 4 run (Kesinger to Turk conversion).