>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
The John Milledge Academy football players walked off the field Friday night at University Stadium in Carrollton on West Georgia’s campus with a smile on their faces.
The Trojans (2-0) had just dismantled Lamar High School of Meridian, MS., by a score of 48-7. They dominated all facets of the game and won their 39 straight contest.
JMA is known most for scoring fast and often, which the Trojans did again on Friday at the 2022 Southeastern Commission of Independent Schools (SECIS) Kickoff Classic.
Both Javian and Jalan Butts had big games offensively for JMA in the win over the Raiders.
Javian, a 5-foot-10 and 200-pound running back, rushed for 100 yards on nine attempts with a TD. Jalan also had a productive night, catches two passes for 49 yards and a score.
So, did quarterback Briggs Eady, who rushed for the Trojans’ first two scores early in the opening quarter. His initial TD came on a 59-yard rush, which put up JMA 7-0 after a Jacob Noles PAT.
Eady found the end zone again after a quick Lamar turnover on downs. This time he took it in from two-yards out, which put the Trojans up 14 points after another made XP from Noles.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Eady also plays defense, too, and he intercepted a Lamar pass on the next possession. That Trojans’ takeaway turned into another TD as tight end Baylen Zielinksi took his only rushing attempt of the night for an 18-yard score.
JMA didn’t take its foot off the gas in the second quarter.
The Trojans’ next drive resulted in Javian Butts’ first rushing TD. They drove the length of the field, and the junior punched it from one-yard out. It gave them a 27-0 lead with Noles’ PAT.
The Raiders’ offense stalled out on their next drive with another turnover on downs. JMA started its following possession in LHS territory. A few plays later, Eady hit Jalan Butts for a 42-yard run-and-score, which made it 34-0 Trojans’ advantage.
However, JMA wasn’t done yet in the opening 24 minutes.
Bud Veal got in on the scoring fun with a TD on the Trojans’ next drive. The junior took a hand-off from Eady, scooted around and through defenders, for a 12-yard score.
The Raiders finally scored their only TD in the fourth quarter. JMA’s defense was led by senior Tanner Humphrey, who had six tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Eady also had a productive game on the defensive side of the ball, totaling three tackles and an INT.
The Trojans are allowing opponents to score an average of seven points per game so far in 2022. They have also only given up two TDs (one each) to Brentwood and Lamar.
JMA will have a bye this upcoming Friday. The Trojans will practice a few days out of the week and work on bettering themselves, said JMA head coach J.T. Wall.
They will face George Walton Academy (1-1) at home on Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.