Jones College Pulls Away Late to Defeat Georgia Military College
Poise and Precision in Road Victory for the Bobcats in Milledgeville
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Georgia Military College and Jones College squared off in an NJCAA Division I match on August 3
0th at GCSU Bobcat Field. It was a physical, fast-paced match that remained evenly poised for much of the afternoon before late goals sealed a 3–0 win for the Bobcats. The Ellisville, Mississippi side displayed resilience, bouncing back after opening the season with losses to Heartland and Western Iowa Tech. This match was the first of the season for GMC, offering an early test against a team that had already played two regular season games.
The opening 20 minutes were tightly contested, with both sides generating chances but failing to convert. Jones College forward Braden Buchanan caused consistent problems on the right wing with overlapping runs.
The first big moment of the match came in the 23rd minute when GMC defender Joe Crick committed a heavy challenge just outside the box. Jones was awarded a free kick, but former West Brom Academy forward Matt Reed fired just over the top-right corner. Minutes later, miscommunication in GMC’s backfield on a goal kick gifted Jones a golden opportunity, and the Bobcats capitalized in the 27th minute to take the lead.
Tensions rose soon after as Joe Crick committed another foul, picking up a yellow card and giving a free kick. Jones couldn’t convert the dangerous set piece. The Bulldogs’ struggles to maintain possession in midfield limited their attacking flow. GMC’s goalkeeper Benji Maldonado, stood tall throughout the first half, including a crucial sliding tackle in the 31st minute to deny a breakaway.
Jones showed creativity on corners, lining up their attackers in a straight row before rushing the box, a tactic that kept GMC’s defense on edge. At halftime, the match felt very much in the balance despite the scoreline.
Georgia Military College began the second half with more composure, stringing passes together and threatening through a close header from Gael Valora off a corner and a long-range strike from midfielder Riley White. Maldonado continued his strong performance with multiple saves, including a diving stop on a dangerous Jones counter led by Braden Buchanan.
However, Jones broke through the Bulldog defense again. With 17 minutes remaining, the Bobcats earned a free kick just outside the box and curled it past the keeper for a 2–0 lead. GMC pushed forward in search of a response but were undone in the closing minutes when a late breakaway ended in a foul inside the box. Jones converted the penalty without hesitation, sealing the 3–0 result.
Despite the scoreline, GMC showed resilience and flashes of attacking promise. Most importantly, the Bulldogs need to act with composure and avoid giving up unnecessary cards and set pieces. Jones capitalized on key mistakes and showcased efficiency in front of goal. The strong traveling support from Mississippi celebrated a complete team effort as the Bobcats secured a decisive road victory.
After defeating Andrew College on August 31, Jones College will host #12 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Ellisville on September 3 at 6 p.m., while Georgia Military College returns home to face Wallace State Community College-Hanceville in Milledgeville on September 3 at 7 p.m.
Men of the Match:
#7 Braden Buchanan - Forward (JC)
#31 Benji Maldonado - Goalkeeper (GMC)