No. 9
IMG Academy (Bradenton) scored 20 points off four turnovers and upended No. 11
Cocoa 34-13 on Friday in a battle of the two top-ranked teams in Florida.
The Ascenders used an opportunistic defense, a big-play passing attack and a time-killing rushing attack to improve to 2-1 after a season-opening loss Aug. 22.
Cocoa quarterback
Brady Hart, a Michigan commit, was intercepted three times — twice in the first half and once more after halftime — and the Tigers fumbled late in the third quarter. All led to IMG points.
After
Dominick Kelly intercepted Hart in the first quarter, IMG quarterback
Ty Hawkins hooked up with freshman wideout
Eric McFarland for the game's first score.
IMG Academy quarterback Ty Hawkins threw two touchdowns as the Ascenders capitalized on four Cocoa turnovers in a 34-14 win on Friday. No. 9 IMG Academy improves to 2-1 on the season while the 11th-ranked Tigers drop their first contest of the season. (Photo: Stacy White)
Hart's second interception of the half was returned by
Censere Gaylord deep into Cocoa territory but the Ascenders had to settle for a 22-yard
Joseph Collins field goal as IMG took a 24-13 lead into intermission.
Host IMG again settled for a field goal from Collins after
A.J. Marks deflated Cocoa with a pick deep in Tigers' territory after the defense had stopped the Ascenders from scoring on the first possession of the second half.
IMG added another touchdown following the Cocoa fumble as Hawkins found a wide open
Judah Lancaster for 23 yards and a 34-13 lead toward the end of the third quarter.
Cocoa's big play in the first half was a 72-yard pitch and catch from Hart to Central Florida commit
Jayvan Boggs.
IMG added two more first-half scores, one on a one-handed catch by
Adonis Moise from 27 yards out and another on a 32-yard run by
Donovan Johnson.
Cocoa, the two-time reigning 2S state champion, falls to 2-1 and looks to bounce back on Sept. 13 against Heritage (Palm Bay).
IMG lost its season opener 35-34 to Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) before bouncing back with a 27-14 victory over Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.). The Ascenders take on Mt. Zion Prep Academy (Lanham, Md.) on Sept. 12.
No. 9 IMG Academy used a punishing rushing attack and got 20 points off turnovers in their 34-13 win over No. 11 Cocoa on Friday. (Photo: Stacy White)
