High school football highlights: Georgia-bound running back Lovasea' Carroll ready to lead No. 1 IMG Academy against No. 6 Northwestern

Under first-year head coach Bobby Acosta, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) is taking an old school approach in 2020. The nation's No. 1 team doesn't rely on finesse, but rather go directly at opponents. It's been a successful formula and one the Ascenders (6-0) figure to repeat in Friday's national showdown at home against No. 6 Northwestern (Miami).

Leading that mentality is the team's top running back Lovasea’ Carroll, a rugged and speedy 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior committed to the Georgia Bulldogs. Carroll has just 36 carries in six games, but has made the most of those opportunities with 374 yards and seven touchdowns. 

"Georgia fans are going to love this dude," MaxPreps national football editor Zack Poff said. "He has an old school type of game — tough, fast and he doesn't try to run around guys. He will run through you."

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He's averaged better than 10 yards per carry throughout his career. As a sophomore at Warren County (Warrenton, Ga.) he carried the ball 143 time for 1,446 yards (10.1 average) and 23 touchdowns before transferring to IMG, where the load was much lighter. As a junior, he ran 57 times for 571 yards and eight scores.

Carroll wasted none of his four carries in the team's last game, a 56-6 win over Bishop Sycamore, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 71 yards (17.8 average). Carroll shares time with junior Kaytron Allen (58 carries, 416 yards, seven touchdowns).

IMG's running back duo will receive perhaps its toughest test of the season against Northwestern (1-0). The Bulls feature safety Kamren Kinchens and cornerback Tim Burns Jr., both Miami commits, and linebackers Ja'Corey Hammett (West Virginia) and  Pat Payton (Nebraska).