If the
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) football team — ranked No. 1 in the nation — can repeat its last road performance, coach Bobby Acosta will be pleased. His Ascenders fly to Texas on Thursday to prepare for Saturday's noon showdown with No. 6
Duncanville (Texas) at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
"It was tremendous," Acosta said. "We were early on every bus connection and flight. Everyone got the right bag. The kids all wore their masks and followed every protocol. Everyone was safe. The trip was flawless."
Acosta was talking about the journey two weeks ago from Bradenton to Brentwood (Tenn.), where the Ascenders faced Ravenwood. Their performance on the field wasn't bad either, recording a 45-14 victory as part of a 4-0 start to the season.
Saturday's game against a big, fast and well-coached Duncanville team might be the most anticipated of any regular-season contest on the docket this year. The game features 49 players with at least one
FBS scholarship offer.
More than talent, anytime Florida and Texas teams cross borders and face off, there's great interest. Bragging rights reign.
"The atmosphere should be big time," said Acosta, in his first season at IMG. "From what I understand, every person at the game and probably in the state will be rooting for Duncanville."
That's nothing new for IMG Academy, which draws blue chip players from throughout the country, even Texas. That drew the ire of Glen West, the former president of the Texas High School Coaches Association, who in 2016 recommended Texas teams
not schedule the Florida power.
J.J. McCarthy, IMG Academy
Photo by Bryan Metz
Acosta doesn't know all about that. He began his career as a high school coach in New Jersey and then went the college route for six years. He was an assistant at Syracuse, Bucknell and Cornell and spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Minnesota's College of St. Scholastica.
He's developed many relationships with high school coaches along the way, including Duncanville assistant Judd Thrash who called him a few months ago to get the ball rolling, along with IMG assistant Kyle Brey. Saturday's game is the first time IMG has played in Texas since 2015 when
Shea Patterson led the Ascenders to a 47-29 win over DeSoto.
"For us to have the opportunity to get back into Texas and play one of the top teams in the nation is fantastic. We couldn't be happier or more excited," Acosta said.
As far as resistance from West or any other IMG detractor, Acosta said: "My biggest thing is simply focus on our team. If we take on things out of our control we don't do well. We don't dive into all the hype. Our kids just support one another, prepare diligently and play hard."
Frankly, Acosta is merely happy to be in the middle of a season. He took the job in January with the focus of building a new culture, a new offense and starting a new tradition. Things were advancing smoothly through February, then COVID-19 struck and, like the rest of the country, everything was put on hold.
"There were days (in the summer) I thought there's no way we're going to have a season," he said. "For us to be 4-0, on our way to Texas, with this great opportunity, I'm very happy and content. Every week, every game is a great opportunity, because we know opportunities can be taken away (with COVID-19)."
Traveling with 70 teenagers and staff isn't easy under normal circumstances, let alone during a pandemic. The Dallas region this week has canceled or altered 15 games, according to the
Dallas Morning News, largely due to positive COVID-19 tests. Last week, it was 17 games.
IMG Academy is itself, largely a bubble and safety is a top priority, Acosta said. That's why he was so pleased with the team's first travel attempt. It's one of many reasons why he's had a smile on his face all week.
"With more than 140 players (three teams), this is the largest team IMG has ever had," he said. "For us to come together as we have so fast, with a new system while enhancing the culture and academics, is what I'm most pleased and impressed with."
It helps to have a field general and leader on the field like
J.J. McCarthy, the Michigan commit and transfer from Illinois. He's completed 63-of-108 passes for 976 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 106 more yards and a score. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior is much more than just numbers, Acosta said.
"He's really like a coach on the field," he said. "I have no trouble giving him the car keys to run the show."
Acosta's spread attack with multiple formations requires "kids to play instinctively and react," he said. Acosta taught McCarthy the system on Zoom calls to Illinois, but because the quarterback is so bright, "by the time he got down here, he was literally teaching the teachers the system."
Combine his smarts, with "his arm strength, ability to run and leadership, he's the complete package," Acosta said.
That should be helpful on foreign turf against a fast and active Duncanville defense, led by 6-2, 245-pound Alabama-bound linebacker
Kendrick Blackshire, college-bound defensive linemen
Kevon Ivy (6-4, 250, UNLV), in addition to
Tyler Quinn (6-1, 266, Colorado State) and SMU-bound safety
Jadarius Thursby.
The Panthers (1-0) have reached the Texas 6A-1 championship game the last two seasons, losing both years to North Shore (Houston). They opened their season with a 41-3 win over South Oak Cliff (Dallas), giving up 128 total yards.
"They have great athletes, are very well coached and have a strong tradition," Acosta said. "It should be one heck of a game."
Kevon Ivy, Duncanville
File photo by Gordon DeLoach
