IMG Academy, the No. 2 team in the nation on the USA Today Super 25, completed the biggest comeback in program history against The First Academy.
The Ascenders rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to beat The First Academy 48-27 in Orlando on Friday, Sept. 18.
IMG's biggest comeback had been 14 points in a 50-49 win against Centennial (California) in 2016.
The Ascenders (4-0) trailed the Royals 24-7 at halftime. The First Academy freshman quarterback Deuce Woods Jr. was outstanding in the first half, rushing for two scores and throwing for another.
It took less than eight minutes for IMG to flip the script on The First Academy (4-1, No. 3 Class 2A).
Georgia commit Jayden Wade threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Alabama commit Osani Gayles on the
Ascenders first drive of the second half. On IMG's next drive, Wade connected with Texas A&M commit Eric McFarland for a 65-yard score.
IMG took its first lead of the game on a touchdown run by junior Elijah Newman-Hall with 4:53 left in the third quarter. USC cornerback commit Aaryn Washington extended the lead to 34-24 with a pick-six late in the third quarter.
The First Academy made it a one-score game when kicker Vance Fones drilled a 54-yard field goal, his second of the game. But it was as close as the Royals would get.
Gayles returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and Wade threw another touchdown pass to McFarland in the fourth quarter.
The First Academy is the only Florida school playing IMG this season.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: IMG football completes biggest comeback in program history at TFA
