Trojans open playoffs at Tiftarea

Published 10:25 am Wednesday, November 6, 2024

John Milledge has ended Tiftarea Academy’s football season six times in history.

The second-ranked Panthers (9-1) are looking to finally return the favor when they welcome the No. 7 Trojans (2-8) to Chula in a 7:30 p.m. kick Friday. It will be the first round of the eight-team GIAA Class AAA state playoffs. Winners this week go to the semifinals. Losers head to the basketball court or the couch.

Friday brings a rematch from week three in the regular season. The Trojans went south on Aug. 30 and lost 46-21, marking the program’s first loss to Tiftarea in seven meetings. It was in that game JMA senior quarterback Kolt McMichael injured his knee in the third quarter. Already down multiple scores at that time, the Trojans weren’t going to mount a comeback without their All-State QB while also missing other playmakers out with injuries.

McMichael returned to the field a couple of weeks ago in the regular season finale versus Mount de Sales. Some of his teammates have steadily been coming back in recent weeks as well, meaning the Trojans ought to be able to put a better foot forward this time around.

“We’re definitely not the same team we were in that first meeting,” JMA head coach JT Wall said. “I feel like we’ve gotten better, but obviously Tiftarea is not the same team either. Each week has been routine for them. They’ve lined up, done what they do, and done it really well. We know the task at hand and know it’s going to be an uphill battle, but I think our kids are up to the challenge.”

The Panthers lost only one game in the regular season, a 21-14 result on a rainy night at Westfield. Probably Tiftarea’s most impressive win on its resumé came just last week when it won district over defending state champ Valwood, 28-21. Senior quarterback JR Walker leads the Panthers offensively with over 2,700 yards combined running and throwing. He’s got 24 touchdowns on the ground and 16 through the air. He had 225 rushing yards and two TDs on 16 carries against the Trojans the first time around. Walker also threw for 141 yards and a pair of scores to account for over half of his team’s points that late August night.

“He is the straw that stirs the drink,” Wall said. “He makes it go, whether it’s running or throwing. But you can’t load the box because they’ve got another senior at receiver who’s a big time playmaker.”

The JMA head coach was referring to wideout John Jackson, who’s got 864 yards receiving and has been the recipient on half of Walker’s TD throws. Panthers head coach Erik Soliday likes to go deep and take the top off of opposing defenses early, so don’t be shocked if Walker takes a shot Jackson’s way on TA’s opening drive.

Wall wants his team to continue its pattern of improvement as the season hangs in the balance. Preparation had been going well as of Monday’s practice.

“The guys had a really good practice yesterday,” Wall told the newspaper Tuesday. “If you can’t get up for this time of year, you’re doing it wrong. We want to keep progressing the way we have been. I think we’re peaking at the right time.”

Winner of Friday’s John Milledge-Tiftarea matchup moves on to the state quarterfinals to take on either No. 3 Valwood or No. 6 Frederica. A Trojan win this week would put them on the road no matter the opponent.