John Milledge Academy (6-1, 1-0) demonstrated total dominance last Friday night at home on Trojan Field, with 51-13 win over Stratford Academy on Homecoming night. The victory also provided the Trojans with their first region win this season.
The Trojans delivered an outstanding defensive performance and a balanced attack against the visiting Eagles. JMA tallied 70 total tackles, with 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries, plus 363 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns.
“I was impressed with how physical we played,” JMA head coach J.T. Wall said. “We will need to continue to play that way for the rest of the season, as well as the playoffs.”
JMA took a quick first-quarter lead upon receiving the opening kickoff. Trojans quarterback Lewis Cheney found tight end Asa Wall downfield for a 39-yard pass completion to set up an eight-yard rushing touchdown by Javaris “Duke” Hurt for a 7-0 lead.
Cheney again connected with Wall for a 45-yard touchdown pass to extend the Trojans’ lead to 14-0 late in the opening quarter. Wall continued what would become his finest performance of the season so far, scoring a nine-yard rushing touchdown to put JMA up 21-0 with two minutes to go in the first quarter.
To start the second quarter the Trojan defense made their first big impact play of the game when Malik Dorsey intercepted an Eagles pass attempt that led to Hurt’s second rushing score of the night.
Abe Gainous later made his first interception of the season, which led to Asa Wall reaching the endzone for the third time in the first half with a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Trojans up 35-0 at halftime.
JMA gave up just two touchdowns in the second half while scoring another 17 points of their own to reach a dominant 51-13 victory.
“It was important because of how competitive this region is, as any team can beat any team on any given night,” Coach Wall observed after the game.
With four touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving), and 170 all-purpose yards, tight end Asa Wall turned in perhaps the best performance of his young career. Wall also made 12 total tackles on defense (seven solo, five assisted), including two quarterback sacks.
Other top performers for the Trojans on defense were Lane Rhodes with 11 total tackles, Brayden Faulkner with 10 total tackles and one interception, and Gainous with seven tackles and one interception.
Offensively, Cheney completed 11 of 16 passes for 212 yards passing and three touchdowns, while Hurt led the Trojans in rushing carries with 10 for 78 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
As a team, JMA had 151 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground.
JMA has a bye this week and will prepare to play First Presbyterian Day (5-2, 1-0) on Oct. 10 in Macon. FPD posted a 42-7 win over longtime rival Mount de Sales last Friday. This Friday, the Vikings will continue region action against Stratford Academy (5-1, 0-1).