John Milledge Academy head football coach J.T. Wall walked off the field Thursday night at Mercer University’s Five Star Stadium with a smile on his face.
The long-time Trojans’ head coach just led his team to a fifth overall state championship and fourth straight as JMA defeated Deerfield-Windsor 49-0 in the GIAA Class 3A title game.
“This one was special,” Wall said. “I can’t express how proud I am of these guys.”
JMA was able to overcome a slow start offensively. However, once the Trojans found a rhythm, it was going to be hard for the Knights to stop them down the stretch.
JMA’s offense failed on a fourth-down attempt on its first possession, but after that, it was smooth sailing. The Trojans got an offensive spark from their leader the next time out.
Senior quarterback Briggs Eady rushed for a pair of TDs on the next two JMA drives. They both came within two minutes of each other toward the end of the first quarter.
Eady had a 67-yard rushing score called back due to a holding penalty. However, a few plays later, the senior signal-caller crossed the goal line from 29 yards out. The next time out, he took off in the open field for a 61-yard TD to put the Trojans up two scores.
“I can’t explain what he means to this program, this school and how good of a football player he is,” Wall said of Eady. “He’s a competitor in every definition of the word.”
The Knights were able to get down to the JMA 32 yard-line on their first drive, but the Trojans sacked quarterback Lane Sceals on a critical third down. Then, they attempted a field goal, although a botched snap took away their opportunity to score.
The Trojans’ defense played ferociously from that point on as the offense started to click. Nevertheless, the unit did get a second break midway through the second quarter as Deerfield missed a short field goal, which gave the sideline a lot more juice.
JMA didn’t go for the kill shot, though.
The Trojans put together a long drive and ate up nearly four minutes off the clock. Eady ran for a pair of first downs before running back Javian Butts punched it in from four yards with 2:11 left in the second quarter. They led the Knights 21-0 at the half.
“One of our coaches said early in the playoffs that it doesn’t really matter what we do offensively. When it comes down to it, we’re going to line up and run it down your throat,” Wall said. “That’s what these guys were built for all the way through, and that’s what they’ve known. That’s what I know. They did a great job of it.”
The Knights’ offense received the ball to start out the third quarter but soon punted it away.
JMA got back possession on its own 20 and the Trojans’ offense put together another scoring drive. It was capped off with Baylen Zielinksi reaching the end zone on a 24-yard sweep. The senior tight end ran right through defenders on his way for six.
The JMA defense then held strong and forced another punt, setting up the offense at its own 30. Eady connected with Zielinksi for a 70-yard TD across the middle on the first play. That score put the Trojans up 35-0 after the PAT with 4:17 left in the third quarter.
The next few possessions were dreadful for Deerfield as Sceals was picked off three times.
Banks Eady, who is Briggs’ brother, grabbed the first INT following Zielinksi’s TD. The senior then cashed it in on offense during the next drive as he rushed for an 18-yard TD. Eady missed half of the season due to injury but made the most of his final game.
Jalan Butts, who is Javian’s brother, picked off Sceals early in the fourth quarter on the Knights’ next drive. Junior Bud Veal scored JMA’s final TD of the night on an 18-yard run. The Trojans led 49-0 after Jacob Noles’ final made extra-point with 8:40 left.
However, Deerfield didn’t give up and continued to let Sceals air it out in an attempt to score. The freshman was chased outside of the pocket and was hit as he threw. That is when JMA senior defensive tackle Hayden Hulett pulled down his first career INT.
“Credit coach (Justin) Mills and our defensive staff. … They did a great job tonight. These guys fly around,” Wall said. “I’ve said a bunch of times, the offense gets a lot of the glory, but we are who we are the last couple of years because of how we play defense.”
The win cements another milestone for JMA under Wall and adds on to his legacy. He now has a 138-14 coaching record through 12 seasons at the helm of the Trojans’ program.
JMA has also won 50 consecutive games, dating back to the end of the 2018 season. The Trojans set the Georgia high school state record of 48, previously held by GHSA’s Buford High, two weeks ago with their victory over the Heritage School.
“Yeah, it’s special. I told the kids that we’ve done an unbelievable job of playing and practicing with our blinders on, and not focusing on anything but the next week,” Wall said after the game as he was dripping with Gatorade. “It’s time to enjoy this one. Our guys have done a heck of a job, so they have a lot to be proud of.”