No. 5 IMG Academy knocks off No. 15 Northwestern 24-7 in Florida high school football showdown

By Staff Report Sep 6, 2019, 7:00pm

Ascenders knock off Bulls for the third year in a row.

The MaxPreps National Game of the Week saw No. 5 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) dominate No. 15 Northwestern (Miami) on defense and special teams to capture a 24-7 win Friday night.

After a defensive battle in the first half saw the Ascenders lead just 3-0, fireworks began early in the second half.

A 56-yard pick six by O.J. Burroughs got things started on just the second play of the third quarter, giving IMG Academy a 10-0 advantage.

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The Bulls quickly responded with a long touchdown of their own on a 74-yard screen pass to Kahlil Brantley just 50 seconds later to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 10:05 remaining in the third quarter.

The Ascenders answered back with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Ari Allen on the ensuing kickoff to stretch the lead back to 17-7.



Just minutes later IMG Academy special teams answered the call again, blocking a punt on the two-yard line that led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen with 6:54 to go in the third quarter.

IMG Academy (2-0) will travel to the City of Brotherly Love next week to take on another Top 25 foe in No. 18 St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.), while Northwestern (2-1) will travel to Killian (Miami) looking to recover from a tough loss.
Lovasea' Carroll of IMG Academy on the move in the first half against Northwestern.
Lovasea' Carroll of IMG Academy on the move in the first half against Northwestern.
Photo by: Daniel Galarza