>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
John Milledge Academy played its toughest game of the season Friday against Stratford Academy, although the Trojans were able to leave Macon with a 21-7 win.
They led the entire game, but the score was a little too close for comfort late in the second half. However, that was until JMA’s defensive duo of seniors Banks Eady and Tanner Humphrey made a heads-up play to help the Trojans secure the victory.
JMA turned the ball over on downs with around four minutes left in the GIAA region matchup. The Eagles then took over on their 36-yard line as they trailed, 14 -7.
Stratford had a chance to tie the game with a TD and PAT. So, the Eagles’ offense got to work, hoping to snap JMA’s 43-game winning streak, but the Trojan defense stood tall.
Eady, who was playing in his first game of the season after battling an injury, caused a fumble, which was picked up by Humphrey. The senior cornerback scooped up the ball and returned it 46 yards for a TD, putting his team up two scores.
“It was two big-time players making a big-time play,” JMA head coach J.T. Wall said. “It was really smart on Banks' part to knock it (the ball) down. Humphrey, realizing it was still a live ball - being able to scoop and score - cemented the win for us.”
The pair of defenders kept the winning streak alive with the play on a night when a lot of things went wrong for the Trojans, which is completely out of character for them.
Although JMA’s offense was able to move the ball and rack up 321 total yards, it was an off-night for Wall’s high-powered offense. Stratford was physical from the opening kickoff.
He gave credit to where it was due.
“They’re coached well and had us schemed up,” Wall said of Stratford. “They made some adjustments, but that’s a good ball club we were playing over there, too.”
The Trojans put together a 70-yard scoring drive on the opening possession in the first quarter.
JMA senior quarterback Briggs Eady broke off a 55-yard run, putting JMA deep inside Stratford territory. A few plays later, Jalan Butts punched it in from two yards out.
The Trojans are a fastpaced, quick-scoring offense, and they usually set the tone early, even so, the Eagles were able to do something that other teams haven’t in the past few years, which was controlling the time of possession in the game.
Stratford ate up about six minutes of the clock, but its first drive resulted in a punt. The Trojans then got the ball back at their three-yard line with a few minutes left in the first quarter. Eady then hit Baylen Zielinksi on a long passing connection.
JMA found the end zone on the same drive, although at the start of the second quarter. Trojans’ running back Javian Butts then punched it from five yards out to cap off their possession. Jacob Noles tacked on his second PAT and JMA led, 14-0.
From that point on, the Trojans struggled offensively throughout the rest of the game. They barely let the Eagles gain an inch until that last possession in the fourth quarter.
“We had multiple drive killers. They were self-inflicted wounds and penalties,” Wall said. “That’s what was kind of killing us, but we said going into the game that they’re a physical bunch.”
The Eagles started out the second half with the ball but faced some adversity early. JMA’s Brandon Watson had a big tackle for loss before Jalan Butts came down with an INT. Still, the Trojans’ offensive attack was stopped by Stratford’s defense.
The Eagles finally put together a scoring drive on the ensuing drive. Stratford junior James Grove broke free on a long run, setting up quarterback Billy Noblitt to complete a 12-yard pass to Eli Miscall for a TD. The PAT was good, but JMA still led, 14-7.
The Trojans’ defense went in lockdown-mode following Stratford’s only score of the night.
Eady was 8-of-12 passing for 59 yards, and he led JMA in rushing with 173 yards on the ground. Javian Butts totaled 69 yards on 13 rushing attempts with a TD for the Trojans.
Kolt McMichael, who is the backup quarterback, led JMA in tackles with a total of 15. He was all over the field, as well as Andrew Mullis, who totaled nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Humphrey and Hayden Hulett each racked up eight tackles.
“It was a good gut-check game to kind of see where we are,” Wall said. “We know our guys will historically compete. They did just that on Friday night. The thing is that we need to do it every week (for the rest) of the season now, especially with the way the schedule is and playoffs coming. So, it doesn’t get any easier for us (from here on out).”
John Milledge Academy (7-0) will host First Presbyterian Day (Macon) on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.