>> JOHN MILLEDGE ACADEMY
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JMA co-captains Brandon Watson (66), Jayden Dorsey (11) and Bud Veal (3) walk out on the field prior to the game’s start.
John Milledge Academy (JMA) hosted the Brookwood Warriors last Friday on Homecoming night in Milledgeville, where the Trojans won 62-28 at Trojan Field.
It marked the fifth win in as many games for JMA this year and extended the organization’s winning streak to 55 over the last five seasons. So far this season, JMA has outscored its opponents 214-57, with Brookwood’s 28 the biggest bite taken so far out of the Trojans’ defense.
However, the Trojans have been bitten by the injury bug, with starting linebacker David Todd out and quarterback Kolt McMichael sustaining a right leg injury Friday night. As of press time, McMichael’s status was yet to be updated.
Still, JMA dominated on both sides of the field last week, with running back Javian Butts leading the way. Butts more than doubled his season total in touchdowns against the Warriors, scoring five on the night.
JMA took an early lead with a McMichael pass completion to tight end Isaiah Womble for a 35-yard touchdown.
Brookwood answered on the kickoff with a 65-yard return for a score, but missed the extra point, keeping JMA in the lead at 7-6.
The Trojans responded with a long drive, capped by the first of four Javian Butts rushing scores, this one from just one yard out.
The Warriors’ offense then stalled and turned the ball back over to JMA, giving Javian Butts the opportunity to carry the ball 29 yards to the end zone and extend the Trojans lead to 20-6.
Butts earned another rushing score on the following drive.
On defense, JMA’s Jaden Dorsey intercepted a Warriors pass to set the Trojans up for a fifth score. Bud Veal reached the end zone from six yards out on a botched handoff that turned into a remarkable touchdown run for the Trojans, which now led 34-6.
Brookwood then put together its second scoring drive, going 65 yards downfield, led by a 54-yard touchdown carry by running back TJ Thomas. Brookwood successfully went for the two-point conversion play to bring the score to 34-14.
JMA’s McMichael injured his right knee early in the second quarter, after already completing seven of nine pass attempts for 121 yards.
Former Baldwin quarterback Solomon Burney, who has been playing wide receiver and defensive back all season for the Trojans, took over for McMichael as the Trojans’ signal caller.
Burney quickly got into a groove, completing a 32-yard pass to Javian Butts, who scored his fourth touchdown and his only receiving score of the night.
Even before the half ended, Javian Butts scored his fifth-and-final touchdown of the game to extend the Trojans’ lead to 48-14. Butts finished the game with 274 total yards (191 rushing, 83 receiving).
Brookwood got off to a hot start in the second half, scoring on its first drive; however, JMA answered back with its own opening scoring drive, capped off by a rushing touchdown for Veal. Both teams would exchange possessions before the Trojans scored their final touchdown of the game on a Jamel Cooper rush to the end zone.
Brookwood added its final touchdown late in the fourth quarter to reach the game’s 61-28 conclusion.
This Friday, JMA will visit Bellville to play the Pinewood Patriots in the Trojans’ final game before region play begins Oct. 13, when they host the Stratford Eagles.