MILLEDGEVILLE — The atmosphere was ripe with excitement Thursday night in Eatonton as John Milledge Academy and Gatewood faced off in a game that will go down in history as one of the classics.

Both teams exchanged scores and big plays during the heated contest, but JMA dug down deep and prevailed in the end 31-28.

“They are a big rivalry and it’s right across the lake. I think every sport we play this season we start out with Gatewood. We’ve beaten them in softball and football so far,” said associate head coach J.T. Wall as he kicked back in his office Friday.

Wall was also resting his vocal chords after the very intense and emotional victory.

In the game, the Trojan running game pounded their way to over 350 yards on the ground. JMA’s special teams and defense did the rest, but the Gators did show some quick strike ability in their loss.

Wall said the Trojans were serious and focused as they travelled on the bus, with hardly a word muttered as they all looked straight ahead toward their destiny.

“Soon as they got up here and got dressed it was a business trip for them. It was first-class business and nobody really said much,” said Wall.

Perhaps the biggest thing to come out of Thursday’s game was the Trojan’s offensive line play.

“Our offensive line played great. If they keep playing that way this year we should pile up a lot of yards,” said Wall. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that look good getting off that bus. We got them to playing good and they certainly did that last night. With the size we have this year we can certainly lean on a lot of people.”

J.T. Stevens, who bulldozed his way through Gatewood defenders for over 140 yards, didn’t score in the ball game but did make it down to the one yard line on more than one occasion.

JMA started out their scoring in the first quarter when tailback Cooper Morgan punched it in from two yards out, giving JMA a 6-0 lead with 9:06 to go in the quarter. The extra point was blocked by the Gators.

Perhaps one of the most inspiring plays of the game, and one that really ignited JMA’s sideline, was the opening return by senior Josh Harrison. Harrison got a good block, found a seam and raced to the Gators own 35 yard line.

The Gators then scored on their next possession and grabbed their first lead of the game, 7-6, with 7:31 to go in the first.

JMA quarterback Wicker Tuten, who had been recovering from an injury, was able to play some for JMA and scored on a one yard keeper later in the half. Ryan Blizzard started the game but gave up a few snaps to Tuten.

Morgan then scored on a two-point conversion and JMA recaptured the lead, 14-7.

The Gators then tied the game on a 54-yard rushing touchdown later in the second quarter as the teams knotted up at the half, 14-14.

With ten minutes to go in the third, Gatewood scored on a 79 yard touchdown to go up 21-14.

Ryan Blizzard then got in on the action later in the quarter and punched one in from one yard out. With the game sitting at 21-21 late in the third, it was becoming obvious that whoever wanted it most was going to capture the Lake.

With 9:50 to go in the final quarter, Harrison kicked a 23 yard field goal to put JMA up 24-21.

The Trojan defense then held the Gators before giving JMA another shot at putting points on the board.

After a punishing drive, Morgan added a two yard scoring plunge to put the Trojans up 31-21.

A late Gatewood score would pull them within three, and with less than five minutes to go in the game, JMA’s Frankie Hines pounced on an onside kick to preserve the victory, and a 1-0 start for the Trojans.

Offensively, Stevens finished the day with 14 carries and 142 yards, including two long runs of 40 yards-plus.

“He keeps his feet churning,” said Wall. “He’s a tough one.”

Morgan finished with 11 carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Morgan also scored on a two-point conversion. Ryan Blizzard had six carries for 70 yards and a score. Tuten finished with five carries for 31 yards and a touchdown.

The Trojans open up their home slate Friday, Sept. 3, versus Windsor.

“We put 324 yards on the ground. They had last night to celebrate. So now their minds have to be on Windsor,” said Wall. “It was a great win, but it’s not like we won the state championship.”

Wall added that the team must continue to maintain their focus, especially with tough region opponents ahead.

“We definitely don’t want a down week this week. We want to come out and take care of business,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to stress to the kids. We won a game, and it’s all great and good, but we’ve got to go win another one.”

Wall again pointed out the play of his offensive line versus Gatewood.

“Those guys really did a good job on that line. Gavin Kopel at center, Heath McDonald at guard, Wynn Owen at guard, B.T. Walters at tackle, Granger Harpe at tackle, and Jon Thrower at tight end. We allowed no sacks,” said Wall.

The Trojans did, however, get sacks from J.T. Stevens and Jon Thrower on defense, and the team also pressured Gatewood’s quarterback well.

“Defensively, we played fairly well, but we allowed the big play. There were some third-and-longs where they slipped away for a fifty yard touchdown,” said Wall. “If we can eliminate the big plays on defense, keep control of the clock and keep pounding away on offense, a lot of good things can happen. We finally got that 900-pound gorilla off our back.”