Baldwin ? Though fans went to the Baldwin High football game against Prairie View on Tuesday night expecting to see the varsity football squad, they got to watch three quarters of the junior varsity in a 49-28 bullying of the Buffalos.

With the score 49-6 midway through the second quarter, Baldwin coach Mike Berg turned to the second and third stringers to finish off the Class 4A bi-district contest.

“It was pretty exciting to see them out there,” said Bulldogs’ senior Aaron Hannon, who had a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown. “I remember when I was young, I was always wanting to get in the games, and they’re having a real good time.”

Giving his starters the second half off could prove beneficial when the Bulldogs (9-1) face a more formidable foe Saturday.

“I think it’s huge. At this time of year, with a real short time in between the games, we needed this little rest,” Berg said. “They played hard, but they got their rest, too.”

Baldwin High's Klay Garrison, center, and blocker John Brown (23) head upfield in the Bulldogs' 49-28 victory over Prairie View. BHS advanced in the Class 4A state playoffs with the victory Tuesday in Baldwin.

The varsity was able to electrify the Baldwin fans with big gains, big hits and big returns before turning it over to the backups.

Aaron Mills added to the stellar special-teams play by returning a kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown following the Buffalos’ only touchdown of the first half.

“It was exciting. Me and Hanny went back and forth,” Mills said. “He returned the punt, and I told him I was going to match him and get the kickoff, and it was just cool.”

Though the offense is credited with putting the other 34 points on the board, it relied heavily on the play of the Baldwin defense to set it up.

The defense forced three turnovers, two of which resulted in quick touchdowns. And when BHS couldn’t force turnovers, it forced punts.

Baldwin's Aaron Mills looks for yardage. The Bulldogs defeated Prairie View, 49-28, Tuesday night in Baldwin.

Prairie View (3-7) was prevented from picking up any first downs until the last minute of the first half.

However, it is defense that Hannon says the Bulldogs will have to work on the most in practice.

“I think our opponents have a good running back, so we’ll probably focus on stopping the run game,” Hannon said.

Probably the best thing for Baldwin was its ability to win with backup quarterback Blake Wieden under center.

“We practiced hard all week and had a lot of good practices that helped me focus,” said the second-string quarterback, who played in place of injured starter Jeremy Wright and had a 28-yard touchdown pass to Hannon. “We just knew what had to be done and we came out and did it.”

Despite Wright’s absence, Berg said he expected to see the type of performance his team put forth.

“We’re really proud of our starting quarterback and what he’s done, but we know that Blake is just as good and can get things done too,” Berg said. “Blake knows our offense just as well as Jeremy does and he just did a super job, our line blocked well for him up front, our backs ran hard, everything clicked tonight.”