MILLEDGEVILLE — It’s hard to tell what was louder Friday night — the John Milledge Trojans’ high level of play or Ted S. Smith Stadium’s booming speakers.
Those speakers blasted hype music all night long as JMA enjoyed a 48-19 victory over Tiftarea Academy to advance to the GIAA Class AAA semifinals.
It’s the 11th time in the last 12 years the Trojans have reached the final four. The program, in the last four trips, completed the run to state championships. Head coach J.T. Wall and company hope to make it five in a row as they balance preparation and turkey consumption during practice next week.
“If you’re practicing the week of Thanksgiving, you’re one of the best teams in the state,” Wall said after addressing his team postgame Friday. “We’re afforded that opportunity once again this year. It’s something not to be taken lightly.”
The eighth-ranked Tiftarea Panthers came to town toting a 3-7-1 record that was a little misleading. Four of those losses had come as one-score margins, but the visitors from Chula could not match the Trojans’ volume Friday.
TA’s best hope was junior dual threat quarterback JJ.R. Walker. He made plays with his feet at times and his receivers helped him out with some contested catches, but three Walker passes wound up in the hands of the wrong team wearing blue and gold.
His first interception came on the Panthers’ first drive when senior Jaden Dorsey showed great concentration in pulling in the pick from his seat. John Milledge had punted on its opening possession, but did not waste Dorsey’s gift. Taking the snap on 3rd-and-8 at the TA 31, JMA junior quarterback Kolt McMichael lofted a pass for senior Jalan Butts, who pulled the football in for the TD despite having a Panther defender’s arm/hand all in his face.
The wet field conditions due to earlier rain did nothing to stop John Milledge from throwing the football at all as shown by McMichael’s 13-of-21 passing performance. Wall shared his philosophy on going to the air when the grass is slick like it was Friday.
“A lot of times the offense has the advantage when it’s wet because receivers know where they’re going on their route,” the JMA head coach said.
Perhaps Wall’s on to something. McMichael’s other two touchdown throws went to senior Bud Veal, who had significant separation from the nearest DB on both his scoring receptions.
Butts wasn’t done for the night either. On the three occasions Tiftarea got to kick the ball off, each one was a squib sent dribbling down the middle of the field. With about four minutes to go in the first half following the Panthers’ second touchdown, Butts scooped up the ensuing dribbler with all the confidence of a baseball infielder and ran it back up the middle 75 yards for a special teams touchdown. That made it 28-12 Trojans before Veal’s second receiving TD brought the halftime score to 35-12.
The JMA defense produced turnovers on consecutive drives in the third quarter, Dorsey bringing in his second interception before junior linebacker David Todd just did get a foot down inbounds to make his pick count.
Senior running back Javian Butts continued his scoring rampage, notching his 23rd and 24th rushing touchdowns of the season. Center Hudson Dominy helped part the middle of the Tiftarea defense like the Red Sea on Jav. Butts’ first TD early in the second quarter.
Wall gave his assessment of his team’s performance.
“The guys played hard and were able to adapt to some adjustments we had to make early. Tiftarea was doing some things defensively we didn’t know they were going to do, but our guys adjusted. Kolt threw the ball well and we ran it when we had to run it. Defensively, we played good enough to win. We’d like to get off the field on third downs more, but I’m proud of the way they adjusted after halftime.”
The Trojans were awaiting the winner of Brookwood and Pinewood Friday night. That game was nowhere near over when JMA-Tiftarea was, but Pinewood pulled it out in a 68-61 scoring fest. Both teams were in the 40s when Wall was interviewed postgame.
“Whoever it is can score a lot of points and we’ll have to guard the pass,” he said before the opponent was known.
John Milledge and Pinewood met during the regular season, a 49-33 Trojan win down in Bellville. The rematch will be next Friday in Milledgeville.