Preview: John Milledge Academy Trojans vs. Valwood Valiants
John Milledge Academy is 6-1 against Valwood since November of 2014, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Thursday. The John Milledge Academy Trojans will play host again and welcome the Valwood Valiants, where kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only John Milledge Academy walked away with it. They simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat the Patriots 63-28 at home. With John Milledge Academy ahead 42-14 at the half, the contest was all but over already.
It was another big night for Javian Butts, who rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 8.9 yards per carry. Butts hasn't dropped below 100 rushing yards for eight straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Kolt McMichael, who threw for 145 yards and three touchdowns on only 13 passes.
John Milledge Academy's defense stepped up as well, laying out the QB four times. Leading the way was Keontae Whipple and his two sacks.
Meanwhile, Valwood had already won six in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 38.7 points), and they went ahead and made it seven on Friday. They put the hurt on Frederica Academy with a sharp 56-30 victory. The game was all but wrapped up at the end of the third, by which point Valwood had established a 25 point advantage.
Valwood's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Marquis Fennell, who rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns on only eight carries. Fennell was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 69 yards. Triston White was another key contributor, rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns on only six carries.
John Milledge Academy pushed their record up to 12-0 with that victory, which was their 14th straight at home dating back to last season. They've been dominating during the matchups in that stretch too, as they've won by an average of 40.29 points. As for Valwood, their win bumped their record up to 10-1.
Everything came up roses for John Milledge Academy against Valwood in their previous matchup back in November of 2022 as the team secured a 49-14 win. Does John Milledge Academy have another victory up their sleeve, or will Valwood turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
