Undefeated IMG Academy football has another test on Friday, and the Ascenders have aced every exam up to this point of the season.
The Ascenders will host The St. James Performance Academy on Oct. 3, an undefeated program out of Virginia that has won their four games with an average margin of victory at over 54 points.
IMG (5-0) is coming off of a win over Legacy School of Sports Sciences (0-4) that saw the Ascenders win, 56-7, while running just 21 plays on offense. St James Academy (4-0) cruised past a one-win Cardinal Ritter College Prep (Mo.) squad, 50-6, last year.
The Strivers have nationally-ranked recruits all over the field, and there are a few matchups
that will be key to Saturday's game. Here are three players to watch when IMG Academy hosts The St. James Performance Academy.
RB Elijah Newman-Hall
The Ohio State commit has split carries with sophomore Cayden Gould in the first half of the year, setting up one of the most effective run games in the country behind a stout offensive line. Gould didn't appear in last week's blowout win over Legacy School, and Newman-Hall's ability as a balanced, powerful running back will be key against a defensive unit that features Tyson Washington (Virginia Tech commit) and Wesley Farmer (West Virginia commit) at linebacker.
DL Azhir Waddell
The Strivers are massive up front, with four different offensive lineman measuring at least 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. Waddell is an explosive, violent player at the line and how he wreaks havoc in the trenches will help set the tone for the rest of the game. If Waddell and the rest of the Ascenders' defensive front can get home like they have all year, St. James Academy's offense will have a long night ahead of them.
WR Eric McFarland III
The Strivers have a strong secondary, headlined by four-star S Kenaz Sullivan (Maryland commit), three-star S Eltonio Hicks (UConn commit), and three-star junior CB Kymani Bridge. McFarland, a Texas A&M commit and No. 6 overall player in the state, is adept at taking the top off of defenses. With McFarland serving as an honest deep threat (as does most of IMG's receiver core), the Ascenders boast one of the most explosive yet balanced offenses out there.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: IMG Academy football: Keep eye on Ohio State, Texas A&M commits this week
