The John Milledge Academy (JMA) football team enjoyed some hard-earned time off last week after sealing the number-one overall seed in GIAA Class AAA state playoffs with a 9-1 regular season record and a region championship.
The Trojans are now preparing to play an old rival in the Piedmont Cougars (7-4, 3-4), who defeated Lakeview Academy last Friday night in the opening round of playoffs. The Cougars defeated the Lions 27-21 to earn a trip from Monticello to Milledgeville this Friday.
This game will mark the first time these two teams face each other since August 2017 when the Trojans shut out the Cougars 56-0 at Trojan Field.
The Trojans are undoubtedly the better team. Since losing to Athens Academy early in September, JMA has gone 6-0 while scoring no less than four touchdowns in each game, as well as sweeping region rivals in four consecutive matchups.
Cumulatively, the Trojans outscored opponents 237-83 over just those six games, compared to Piedmont scoring 226 points total over 11 games — including losses and a first-round playoff win — with 181 against throughout the season so far.
“Last year was the first year in a long time that we haven’t hosted (a playoff game),” JMA head coach J.T. Wall said, adding that his players are “locked in and approaching this week just like the past few weeks.”
The last year the Trojans did not host a playoff game was 2011, Wall’s first year as JMA’s head coach.
Regardless, Wall knows Piedmont will bring a David vs. Goliath mindset to Friday’s game and he has a strong appreciation for what the Cougars do well on both sides of the ball.
“They love to bring pressure on defense, and they do a good job of being balanced on offense,” he said.
Wall added that his Trojans will need to take care of the football offensively and win the turnover battle defensively to ensure a win.
Until last Friday’s first-round 27-21 playoff victory over Lakeview Academy, Piedmont did not show the ability to pull off major upsets this season. The Cougars had lost 34-7 to the Lions in their second game of the regular season but adjusted after reviewing film of Lakeview.
The Cougars do not have that luxury regarding JMA, however, as they prepare for a secondround kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Friday on Trojans Field in Milledgeville.