The Greg Studrawa Era at IMG Academy started smoothly last week in Orlando and continued when the Ascenders visited the Yellowhammer State on Friday night. In a nationally televised on ESPN2, No. 15 nationally ranked IMG Academy flexed their proverbial muscle against Alabama state power Hoover at The Met behind a punishing ground attack led […]
The Greg Studrawa Era at IMG Academy started smoothly last week in Orlando and continued when the Ascenders visited the Yellowhammer State on Friday night.
In a nationally televised on ESPN2, No. 15 nationally ranked IMG Academy flexed their proverbial muscle against Alabama state power Hoover at The Met behind a punishing ground attack led by Louisville commitment Le’Khy Thompkins.
The senior running back led the way with three rushing touchdowns to lift the Ascenders to a 34-13 victory over the Buccaneers. IMG Academy next week will travel to Ocean City, New Jersey and face Winslow Township at Carey Stadium.
No defense has been able to stop Thompkins
One thing is clear through two games under Studrawa’s watch: Thompkins has been unstoppable for IMG Academy.
It’s no coincidence that the former Ohio State offensive line coach would like to lean on the big uglies up front and have them pave the way for Thompkins. The Louisville commit has been happy to oblige when it comes to the open running lanes and Friday night was just another example of the Ascenders’ commitment to running the ball early and often.
Thompkins had multiple scoring runs last week against The First Academy and added three more against a talented Hoover defense. Not to mention playing in a hostile environment that was packed from jump street.
By the fourth quarter, much of the crowd that began the game had packed up and left because Thompkins had already scored to the tune of three times and giving IMG another win in the process.
Hoover will be just fine
If you’re someone in the state of Alabama that’s judging the Hoover Bucs off of this loss to IMG academy, you might want to stop.
The Buccaneers will be just fine based on how they performed against one of the country’s top football programs. Heck, Hoover even held a brief 7-6 lead at one point in thanks to an electric catch-and-run by wide receiver Jonah Winston, the younger brother of New York Giants’ quarterback Jameis Winston.
Players like Kaleb Freeman, who won the quarterback competition, and wide receiver Jeremiah Tabb, who scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, showed they can play with the best of ’em.
Hoover is looking to take the next step in competing for Alabama’s Class 7A state championship this fall and hanging in against IMG Academy is a task for anyone. Look for the Buccaneers to be right there at the end in Alabama’s top classification.
IMG Academy showing early on they’re Florida’s best team
We have such a small sample size right now of the 2025 high school football season, but so far, IMG Academy has proven themselves to be in their righteous place as Florida’s best.
With the number of five, four and three star prospects up and down the Ascenders’ roster, it’s hard to ignore that and not just hand them the title of the Sunshine State’s undisputed top squad. There was reason to wonder before the season, though, if that was exactly the case.
A new head coach, like Studrawa, always leaves reason for pause in wondering can they return to their dominant ways. 2024 at times felt like IMG Academy was just another high school football team among Florida’s Top 25.
Thing is, the Ascenders will never just be like every other program in the state and their first two outings this season have shown they’re returning to being the dominating force they’ve always expected to be year in and year out.
It will be an interesting race at the top of Florida between IMG and Miami Northwestern in debating who is the best, but for now, the Ascenders have a couple impressive performances to boot in making that case.
Category: General Sports
