Trojans hosting Mount de Sales in regular season finale

Published 3:06 am Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Two teams right on the cusp of making their respective state playoff brackets will square off in Milledgeville Friday night.

John Milledge Academy (0-3 region, 1-8 overall), the No. 8 team in GIAA Class AAA, is set to host Mount de Sales (0-3, 3-6), the No. 10 team in the 4A ranks. The AAA tournament will include the top eight teams while 10 4A teams will make that cut.

The MaxPreps power rating system determines the rankings. According to the MP website, the system utilizes “the huge number of game results stored in the MaxPreps database” in order to rank teams. Wins help. Quality wins help more. That’s why a 5-3 team like Monticello’s Piedmont Academy is currently on the outside looking in at the AAA level. Although JMA has only one win, the Trojans have faced a far tougher schedule than the Piedmont Cougars.

John Milledge is hoping to grab one more regular season win this week and further solidify its No. 8 ranking.

“We’re trying to end the regular season on a high note and see where it puts us,” JMA head coach JT Wall said. “I know it sounds crazy, but if we can get in the playoffs you ain’t gotta win but three. Nowhere on God’s green Earth does it say you’ve got to have a winning record to win a state championship. The ring looks the same.”

Wall has reason to be encouraged. His Trojans are coming off one of their best four-quarter performances this season, despite the result being a 28-17 loss at Tattnall Square.

“For the guys, I think the initial feeling was kind of like a letdown, like we had it and let it slip away,” the head Trojan said. “But at the same time, hopefully it’s a shot in the arm and rejuvenates them. We’ve been telling them all year long they’re getting better and playing hard, but it just hasn’t reflected on the scoreboard for four quarters. Now it’s being reflected on the scoreboard, so you hope it carries over.”

This week’s matchup pits JMA against the Mount de Sales Cavaliers. It represents one of the more winnable games on the schedule for this year’s young, inexperienced Trojan squad. Although MDS has three wins this season, those victories have come against teams that have a combined six wins among them. Still, John Milledge has no reason to take anyone lightly.

“Not a great matchup for us,” Wall said. “They’re big up front with a big quarterback who’s a dual-threat guy.”

Sophomore quarterback Zavion DeShazier paces the Cavs. He’s accounted for more than 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns running and throwing this season. While DeShazier is completing 62% of his throws, his interceptions do equal his amount of touchdowns through the air (10). An improving John Milledge secondary, one that picked off three passes last week, may have more opportunities to pounce.

Once the final horn sounds, Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff between JMA and MDS will mark the completion of the 2024 regular season for both teams. John Milledge will be off Friday, Nov. 1 while other teams around the state make up games lost due to Tropical Storm Helene. Only after those contests will the Trojans know for certain whether or not their season will continue.