JMA tromps PCA in season opener, 37-0
By: Lilly Dasher
Student Writer
Pinewood Christian Academy hosted John Milledge Academy on Friday, Aug. 11, in the football season opener. JMA stuck it to the Patriots, 37-0.
JMA’s Trojans received the opening kick from Patriot, Caleb Conley, and took a knee at the 32-yard line, resulting in a Trojan first down. A couple plays later, JMA threw a complete pass for a first down, but the receiver was tackled by Ford Thompson and Logan Lewis. Off the snap, JMA dropped the ball but recovered it to make a complete pass giving them a second down with only five yards to go. Pinewood’s Joseph MacGreggor tackled the runner on the next play.
When JMA ran the ball up the middle again, Patriot John Marshall Headrick, with some help from his teammates, brought the runner down. The Trojans ran through the middle again, but the runner was stopped by Sky Rogers for a second down with 10 yards to go.
When the ball was turned over, Garlon Rogers gained a few yards for the Patriots with a carry. Collin Woolard ran the ball for PCA but lost a yard, then quarterback, Jeffrey Young, threw an incomplete pass for a fourth down, and PCA was forced to punt.
Shortly after a completed 7-yard pass, the Trojans ran through the middle for a 65 yard touchdown, and the point after was good. Score: 0-7.
Lake Dasher received the kickoff at the 31-yard line. Young threw an incomplete pass to Dasher then G. Rogers carried the ball for the Patriots and gained one yard. At third down and 9 yards to go, Young looked for a pass but could not find one, so he ran the ball for 2 yards.
The Patriots were forced to punt and the Trojans received the ball on the 34-yard line. After a 6-yard carry and a couple incomplete passes, JMA was forced to punt.
Dasher received the ball again at the 33-yard line and Young had a strong run, gaining 7 yards. Forced to carry the ball, Young covered some ground for the Patriots, but a flag was thrown and PCA was backed up 10 yards for a personal foul. Not able to find a pass, J. Young ran the ball for a small gain. Third down and 20 yards to go, G. Rogers carried the ball for one yard.
JMA received the ball at the 49-yard line. The Trojans tried to run the ball, but J. M. Headrick had a powerful backfield tackle.
Second Quarter
Shortly into the second quarter, JMA ran the ball through the middle, but S. Rogers stopped the runner for a second down with 7 yards to go. John Millege ran through the middle again, completing a 32-yard TD. The point after was good, bringing the score to 0-14.
Dasher took a knee and Young ran the ball for 6 yards before fumbling. Ford Thompson recovered for a second down and 4 yards to go. Young was tackled in the backfield for a loss of 7 yards. Dasher caught the pass from Young, but was tackled and lost 2 yards.
John Milledge received the ball, but the Trojan fumbled after S. Rogers tackled him. PCA recovered the ball. A flag was thrown on the play and a 15-yard penalty was called against JMA for holding. The Trojans completed 3 passes back to back, but Woolard and G. Rogers made strong tackles for the Patriots, and Thompson forced the receiver out of bounds. S. Rogers had a powerful tackle which stopped the runner on the next play.
The Trojans carried the ball, and a host of Patriots led by S. Rogers brought the runner down. Young stopped the ball carrier on the next play as JMA again ran up the middle. The Trojans threw two incomplete passes in a row for a third down and 10 yards to go. After a series of incomplete passes, the Trojans attempted to carry the ball through the middle again, and Korbett MacGreggor recovered the fumble.
The Patriots set up on the 9-yard line with a first down and t10 yards to go. C. Woolard earned a first down and G. Rogers ran through the middle for a gain of one yard. Young received a bad snap and dropped the ball causing a turnover on downs. The ball was spotted on the 22-yard line, and JMA ran for a 21-yard TD. The point after was good.
After L. Dasher received the kick off, a false start penalty backed the Patriots up 5 yards. G. Rogers’ attempts to move the ball forward were stopped by the Trojan defense. Young threw an 18-yard pass successfully to J. M. Headrick for a Patriot first down. L. Dasher ran the ball and gained 4 yards for PCA. JMA held constant pressure on Young, and he threw an incomplete pass for a fourth down.
John Millege received the ball from the kickoff at the 15-yard line. J. MacGreggor stopped the Trojan runner with a strong tackle.
Third Quarter
Young couldn’t find a pass and was forced to run the ball. G. Rogers carried the ball gaining, earning a third down with 5 yards to go.
After the turnover, the Trojans ran through the middle but their runner was stopped by C. Woolard with a powerful tackle. J. M. Headrick along with C. Shuman halted the ball carrier for a second down with 7 yards to go for John Milledge. On the next play, linebacker S. Rogers tackle resulted in no gain for the Trojans.
JMA carried the ball, and James Rogers tackled the runner for a second down. A false start backed the Trojans up 5 yards and the play remained second down. The Trojans threw a complete pass of 31 yards for a TD.
Woolard earned a Patriot first down. Young ran the ball for a third down. Running the ball again, Young gained one yard.
The ball was spotted at the 44-yard line. JMA carried the ball for 8 yards but was stopped by F. Thompson and C. Shuman. S. Rogers and C. Kennedy worked together to bring down the JMA runner. The Trojans ran the ball again, and C. Shuman brought down the ball carrier with a powerful tackle. C. Kennedy had two back to back superior tackles for the next two plays.
On the next series, S. Rogers along with a host of other Patriots backed up the runner for a loss of yards. S. Rogers stopped the runner on the next play with a hard tackle. C. Woolard and L. Dasher brought the runner down. JMA tried to carry the ball, but the runner was tackled by G. Rogers just short of the goal line.
Fourth Quarter
JMA fumbled and S. Rogers recovered the ball for PCA. The Patriots made no gains on the next two plays and JMA pushed Young back 2 yards, tackled him in the end zone for a safety. Score: 0-30.
Gaining little traction on the next few plays, the Trojans attempted to carry the ball and fumbled.
The Patriots received the ball at the 18-yard line and G. Rogers gained 2 yards on the carry. After G. Rogers gained a Patriot first down, C. Woolard ran the ball 40 yards. G. Rogers carried the ball for a little gain. J. Young threw 3 incomplete passes and the ball was turned over.
Rogers had back-to-back tackles against the Trojan ball carrier, but it didn’t slow JMA up much. They ran the ball for a 61-yard TD. Score: 0-37.
With two minutes left, L. Dasher received the ball at the 30-yard line and ran 7 yards. Jake Shuman carried the ball for a small gain. For the last play of the game, Wade Durrence ran the ball.
The Patriots will face the Robert Toombs Crusaders in Vidalia on August 18.
By: Lilly Dasher, PCA senior
