Third-ranked Class 7A Central welcomed IMG Academy’s National team to Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City with a stunning first-play score and an early two-touchdown lead, but the Ascenders awakened late in the half and walked away with a 41-26 win on Friday.
The Red Devils shocked the college sports prep school, ranked 12th in the nation by MaxPreps, with an 86-yard pass-and-run from Jaylen Epps to a wide-open TJ Parker on the first offensive snap of the game.
Central (4-2) forced a fumble on IMG’s second offensive play that Josh Lee covered at the visitors’ 39-yard-line. The Devils needed three plays – and were aided by the first two of 20 IMG penalties – to score again. Do-everything wide receiver/running back Karmello English ran around left end the final 2 yards for the score with 9:32 to play in the first quarter.
IMG’s David Stone blocked the point-after kick for the second straight time to give the Devils a 12-0 edge.
The IMB website says the National team – one of three teams at the school, not counting a post-graduate squad – is “comprised of some of the nation’s top collegiate recruits as well as those with aspirations to compete in the NFL.” The star-studded squad cut the lead to 12-6 as Donovan Olugbode scored on a 32-yard pass from Jayden Bradford with 8:21 left in the quarter.
Epps connected with a wide-open English in the corner of the end zone with 10:08 left in the half to put the home team up 19-6.
The Ascenders answered with a six-play, 69-yard drive, highlighted by a 22-yard throw from Bradford to Ohio State commitment Carnell Tate. Evan Dickens scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 26-yard scamper around left end.
Tate gave IMG its first lead, one that it would not surrender the rest of the way, when he scored on the third play after a partially blocked Central punt put the visitors in business at the Red Devils’ 45-yard line. Tate scored on a 43-yard reception from Bradford and the visitors led 20-19.
Tight end Riley Williams rumbled into the end zone on a 36-yard crossing route with 4 seconds left in the first half, pushing the Ascenders’ lead to 26-19.
Epps hit a pair of long throws on Central’s first possession of the second half, a 35-yarder to Daylyn Upshaw and a 31-yard slant to Cam Coleman. Epps kept the ball from a yard out to cut IMG’s lead to 27-26 with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
IMG’s Jordan Hall tipped an Epps pass that Gabe Harris intercepted on the Devils’ next possession. It took the visitors five plays to go 26 yards to push their lead to 34-26 on Dickens’ 4-yard run with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.
Tate had a 47-yard punt return to set up Dickens’ third score – a 24-yard sprint untouched off the right side of the line on first down.
IMG overcame 20 penalties for 210 yards and converted on just one of six third-down plays, though the Ascenders did make their one fourth-down try. The visitors rushed for 159 yards, with Dickens accounting for 110 on 15 carries. IMG’s Bradford completed 12-of-14 passes for 199 yards while Epps was 14-for-28 for 232 yards. Epps also led the Red Devils with 41 yards on 15 carries. The home team totaled 308 yards to 358 for IMG.
IMG lost 20-14 to Central-Miami to open the season before beating DeSmet Jesuit of St. Louis 50-6 and Salt Lake City East 63-13.
Central travels to Dothan next week in a battle of 3-1 Region 2 teams.