Stratford stumps John Milledge

Published 11:05 pm Friday, September 27, 2024

MACON – Mercer University’s Five Star Stadium is a place where the John Milledge Academy football program has enjoyed a lot of success and a little heartbreak.

It was the latter Friday night as the Trojans (1-6) lost to the Stratford Academy Eagles (6-1) on the Mercer football field 42-7.

The game was moved from Stratford’s campus during the day Friday after the scheduled host school lost power due to Tropical Storm Helene. Mercer is the site where John Milledge has won each of its five football state championships since the 2016 season. A sixth at the end of the 2024 is unlikely barring a massive turnaround.

Meanwhile, opponents like Stratford are enjoying a year where the Trojans are down. Friday marked the fifth time this season a team has beaten JMA by at least 25 points in what is a reversal of recent Georgia Independent Athletic Association football history. Injuries to key players, including 2023 All-State quarterback Kolt McMichael who just missed his fourth game in a row, aren’t helping matters for the Trojans.

Stratford put up 21 points in the first half to John Milledge’s zero. It didn’t take long into the third quarter for the Eagles to add on via 35-yard touchdown rush from running back Tyler Stephens, his second of the night. Stratford scored twice more before the post halftime period was up to lead 42-0 and earn a running clock in the fourth.

The Trojans’ only points of the night came when senior backup quarterback David Todd found freshman tight end Asa Wall for a TD in the back of the end zone. The scoring play covered about 10 yards.

After seven consecutive weeks of playing, John Milledge has some time to lick its wounds with an open date scheduled for next Friday. Head coach JT Wall and his team will return to the field Friday, Oct. 11 to host FPD, which is who Stratford will visit next week.