Gil Pound/The Union-Recorder

MILLEDGEVILLE – The stakes in the first matchup between John Milledge (11-0) and Pinewood (6-4) this season were miniscule compared to what they’ll be when the two teams meet again this Friday night.

As a matter of fact, there really were no stakes at all when the two teams first collided on Aug. 12. It was a hot, muggy evening to open the 2016 season between schools that are not in the same region. The game did serve however, as a sort of GPS game between two teams that have been right in the thick of the state championship race the past few years.

The game was full of turnovers, missed tackles, penalties and other things one would expect to see from teams in week one. John Milledge jumped out to a 14-0 lead but let the visiting Patriots back into the ballgame by allowing 20 points in the last three minutes of the first half. The final two quarters were a different story as the Trojans looked to be better conditioned and outlasted Pinewood, defeating them 31-20.

The Patriots only finished the regular season at 5-4 but had an impressive showing in the opening round of the playoffs against Trinity-Sharpsburg last Friday. Pinewood walked all over the Lions and came out on top 54-7.

The Trojans can expect a much more balanced attack from what they’ve seen the past two weeks against run-heavy Tiftarea and Gatewood.

“They are pretty balanced when it comes to their offense,” said JMA head coach J.T. Wall. “They are roughly 60 percent run and 40 percent pass, which makes it hard on our defense when an offense is as balanced as they are.”

Wall added that his players should not expect to come away with a win if their play is as untidy as it was in the first meeting over two months ago.

“There are a lot of things to take away from the first meeting with Pinewood,” the head coach said. “We won the game, but I think we played fairly sloppy at times. We had 11 penalties, which is way too many this time of year if you want to advance to the next round and keep playing.”

Among that sloppy play was some poor tackling on the Trojans’ part. Pinewood ball carriers broke free of their would-be tacklers fairly often in week one.

“I think we have definitely improved in the tackling department from the beginning of the year, but so has Pinewood,” said Wall. “We know that it’s going to be a four-quarter battle that we have to be ready for. Pinewood is a proven program that historically thrives in the playoffs.”

A win would put the Trojans right back in the same position they have been in the past few years with a trip to the state semifinals. John Milledge hopes to punch its ticket once again when the final horn sounds Friday night.

Kickoff between the Trojans and the Patriots will be at 7:30 p.m. at Ted S. Smith Stadium.