Second-ranked
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) can't wait to get home to finish off the season. For the second time in three weeks, the Ascenders got a big scare, this time coming back from a fourth-quarter deficit to win 27-17 Friday at a feisty and capable
Auburn (Ala.) squad.
Before a big crowd under a heavy mist, one big turnover and three rushing touchdowns from Penn State bound running back
Kaytron Allen proved the difference in the team's eighth straight win of the season and 19th consecutive overall.
Allen's 2-yard touchdown plunge with 7:25 left put the Ascenders up for good and then the 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior put it away with a 6-yard scoring run on fourth down with 48.7 seconds left.
On Oct. 15 at home, IMG led 17-14 late in the fourth quarter, before knocking off St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Ct.). Now the Ascenders head back to Florida with two home games, the second a Nov. 19 showdown with No. 16 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), the last team to beat IMG Academy — 35-7 in 2019 in Maryland.
Kaytron Allen, IMG Academy
File photo by Jeff Harwell
The Ascenders knew they were in a game from the start. An interception set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from
Da'vaioun Williams to
Camden Etheredge to give Auburn a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Allen tied it with a 4-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, but Auburn went back on top on a 45-yard field goal by
Bakari Dailey early in the second quarter.
IMG Academy responded with a 16-yard touchdown run by quarterback
AJ Duffy to go up 13-10, but before halftime four-star offensive lineman
Bradyn Joiner went into the backfield and scored from the 1 to put Auburn up 17-13.
The Tigers (8-2) held that lead throughout a scoreless third quarter and an upset seemed possible, but
Jihaad Campbell recovered a fumble at the Auburn 26. After a pass interference call, Allen powered it in from the 2, putting the Ascenders up for good, 19-17 with 7:25 left.
Allen put it away with his third touchdown on a 6-yard run on fourth down with 48.7 seconds left and after a
Stacy Gage two-point conversion, IMG Academy had a double-digit win.
The Ascenders followed up the narrow win over St. Thomas More with a dominating 49-8 home win over Illinois power East St. Louis last week. The travel, a strong Auburn squad and a steady mist throughout had IMG Academy on its heels much Friday night before prevailing.
Auburn, an Alabama 7A finalist, play next week at home versus Baker before heading back to the playoffs. The Tigers entered Friday 30-5 overall since 2018.
