John Milledge Academy (JMA) showed improvement last Friday night at home versus First Presbyterian Day (FPD), but the Vikings ultimately proved to be too much for the young Trojans to handle.
Though FPD more than doubled JMA’s scoring output at 49-21 for the final score, it was not necessarily an accurate indicator of the battle both teams endured throughout the night.
The Vikings offense struck first, scoring on a 47-yard touchdown pass on their first drive of the game. JMA answered and tied the game with a fouryard rushing touchdown from senior quarterback David Todd to tie the game at 7 apiece.
FPD quickly reclaimed the lead early in the second quarter, though, with on an eleven-yard rushing touchdown that gave the Vikings a 14-7 advantage.
On its next possession, JMA failed to answer and was forced to punt. The Vikings then drove 58 yards downfield before scoring a seven-yard rushing touchdown to extend the visitors’ lead to 21-7. FPD posted 14 more unanswered points before the end of the quarter and took a 35-7 advantage into halftime.
A third quarter JMA rushing touchdown by freshman Asa Wall began the Trojans attempt at a second-half comeback. However, FPD matched the scoring output to make it 42-14 at the end of the quarter.
The deficit proved to be too much for the Trojans to overcome; though Carter Ivey, another freshman, contributed a final rushing touchdown for JMA to reach the 49-21 final.
The Trojans’ depth will be tested again this Friday with Todd questionable (at press time) for the game at Tatnall Square Academy (6-1, 2-0) in Macon. Todd has been the starting quarterback for JMA since week four when Kolt McMichael was injured playing against Tiftarea Academy.
Todd’s backup is freshman Nathan Snow, who shared snaps with Todd vs FPD but has no experience as a starter. JMA and TSA will kick off at 7:30 p.m.