The John Milledge Academy (JMA) Trojans won the state championship last season, defeating Deerfield-Windsor 49-0 to capture their fourth-consecutive state title.
It capped off an incredible 50-game undefeated run, meaning the seniors on last year’s JMA team never tasted the bitterness of defeat on the gridiron.
This year, the Trojans aspire to keep their championship streak alive; however, the team will need to see new leaders emerge on the field to make it happen.
“Our biggest goal has been to try and continue to get bigger, faster, and stronger physically,” JMA veteran head coach J.T. Wall said. “Also, knowing that we graduated such a large senior class last year, one of our main focuses has been on leadership.”
To that end, Wall said that brothers Jalan and Javian Butts, along with Brandon Watson, Bud Veal, and junior quarterback Kolt McMichael have all stepped up as leaders over the summer.
McMichael is taking over the reins of the team from two-year starter Briggs Eady, who graduated in May.
“He’s had a really good summer,” Wall said of McMichael. “He’s very knowledgeable with the offense and is getting better with his reads and checks both pre- and post-snap.”
On the offensive line, it will take five new linemen to protect McMichael with Watson leading the way.
“It makes all the difference in the world,” Wall said of his O-line. “With us graduating our whole offensive line (last year), we know that there may be some growing pains early on.”
JMA had one of the top offenses in the state last season, averaging 441.7 yards and 47.0 points per game. Newcomers Jayden Dorsey, Solomon Burney, and Isaiah Womble will all be new targets for McMichael, while Jalan Butts, Justin England, and Veal are returning receivers with experience.
Wide receiver Jalan Butts had a solid season last year, catching 20 passes for 459 yards and four touchdowns. Veal had 23 catches for 383 yards receiving and six touchdowns for the year, while also scoring three rushing touchdowns after 142 yards on the ground on 18 carries.
Running back Javian Butts will remain a big key to the Trojans offense this season, too, after racking up 1,097 yards rushing and 249 yards receiving last year while accumulating a career-high 18 rushing touchdowns to lead the team in that category.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Trojans allowed less than three touchdowns a game on average last season, with their closest game being against Tattnall Square in the regular season finale when JMA allowed three touchdowns in a 28-21 victory.
But a major change will come at middle linebacker where Andrew Mullis will have to be replaced by Veal and David Todd. Mullis, who led the Trojans in tackles for two seasons, transferred from JMA to Jones County at the end of the school year.
“Another guy that is really special is Bud Veal,” Wall said in an interview with The Eatonton Messenger’s Lance McCurley last year. “He had a great postseason for us last year. Defensively for us, he plays outside linebacker. He can also play cornerback or safety. He’s a Swiss Army knife that can play anywhere. And Jalan (Butts) is also a lockdown corner that does great things.”
Veal had 39 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and three fumble recoveries during the 2022 season. David Todd, a sophomore last year, had 19 tackles, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery in 2022.
Dorsey and Burney will be among the new starting defensive backs for the Trojans, while Jalan Butts will be the only starting defensive back to return in 2023.
Butts was third on the team in tackles last season with 31 solo stops and 11 assisted tackles but placed first on the team in interceptions with seven on the year. And though Burney lacks experience in the safety position, he has a lot of athletic talent, according to Wall.
On the defensive line, the Trojans return starter Brandon Watson who stands at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds. Watson had 69 total tackles last season with 27 solos, 42 assisted tackles and three sacks.
There is no question the Trojans have enjoyed tremendous success on both sides of the ball in recent years. The obvious challenge for this season will be for the team’s offense and defense to live up to those lofty standards.