FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Trojans' streak lives on; Braves grab homecoming victory; Dawgs fall on the road

John Milledge – 27
FPD – 22

MACON – The streak lives on.

The Trojans managed to stave off a vigorous Vikings' comeback in north Bibb County, in the process running their record winning streak to 58 games.  

The game marked the first time all season that JMA didn't win by at least double digits and only the second time since October 2021 that the Trojans didn't win by at least 10 points.

With the victory, JMA now has the 28th-longest winning streak in high school football history. De La Salle High School of California owns the all-time record at 151 and didn't lose a single football game between 1993 and 2002.

JMA (8-0, 2-0) never trailed, jumping out to a 13-3 lead early in the second quarter. The lead was 20-9 at halftime, and the Trojans were on cruise control for most of the second half, building a 27-9 lead early in the fourth quarter thanks a third Javian Butts touchdown run. 

The Vikings, however, responded with a touchdown and then successfully executed an onside kick. Shortly after that was another FPD touchdown, and suddenly the score was 27-22. Time eventually ran out on Cinderella, though, and the top-ranked Trojans jumped back on the bus and headed home with their streak intact.

It's back to Macon next Friday night for Head Coach J.T. Wall's squad and another region tilt, this one against Mt. de Sales, which is 0-8 this season and has lost every game by at least two touchdowns.

West Laurens – 7
Baldwin – 32

An injury to star running back Micah Welch in the second quarter put a damper on an otherwise happy homecoming on ABC Drive.

Welch needed assistance to the sidelines in the second quarter following an ankle injury, the severity of which won't be known until he has an MRI. In other words, it's possible that Friday was the final time in a Baldwin uniform for the Colorado Buffaloes' verbal commitment.

Junior quarterback Lamar Pounds, in his first season as the full-time starter, had his best performance to date, totaling three touchdowns and showing firm command of the offense. His top target was senior Armontae Palmer, who added another touchdown on a punt return in the second quarter.

The Braves (4-3, 2-2) led 26-7 at halftime, thanks in large part to its offense, while in the second half it was the Baldwin defense that went to work, limiting the Raiders (2-6, 0-4) to a mere two first downs in the final two quarters.

A victory next Friday night at home against Westside-Macon would clinch a playoff berth for the Braves, with the most likely first-round playoff opponent being either Benedictine or Burke County. Benedictine currently is No. 1 in the state and Burke County No. 5.

GMC Prep – 20
Glascock – 59

GIBSON –The Dawgs continued to battle through a barrage of injuries on Friday night against the Panthers, who remain in the hunt to make the state playoffs for the first time in their program history.

Jonathan Roach scored a pair of first-half TDs for GMC, which only trailed 22-14 at halftime. The Panthers poured it on in the second, however.

GMC (2-7, 1-3) is still in playoff contention, however, thanks to last Friday night's upset win over Hancock Central. Should the Dawgs win next Friday night at home against Twiggs County, which hasn't won all season, it could create a complicated scenario for the final playoff spot in GHSA Region 5-A Division II. If GMC, Hancock Central and Glascock all finish with matching 2-3 region records, the tiebreaker would be "points allowed in region games."

^^^CLICK HERE for more!