Photo by ABC13 Erica Simon
Now that the highly anticipated match-up is near, No 1 IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida, will meet No 2 Duncanville on Saturday, October 10, 2020, at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
Duncanville (1-0) got its first taste of preseason football last week, rolling to a 41-3 victory over South Oak Cliff.
Like the Panthers, many high schools throughout the nation have experienced issues filling its schedules because of COVID-19. Its eight-game schedule typically reflects a ten-game layout.
According to USA Today, IMG Academy (4-0) comes in as the top-ranked team and has outscored its opponents by an astounding 194-42.
IMG will also play an eight-game schedule which began with a 49-13 thrashing of one of Florida’s powers, Venice, on September 4, 2020, and have since beaten Edgewater (Orlando, Fla) 48-7, Ravenwood (Brentwood, TN) 45-14, and Life Christian Academy (Chester, Va) 52-8.
The two teams will face each other for the first time in the school’s history.
IMG’s will travel to the Lone Star State for the first time since defeating
DeSoto, 47-29, on September 15, 2015, following a center of controversy.
When scheduling the Ascenders, DeSoto’s coach Peterman admitted that he did not know the program recruited nationally and followed it up by saying it will be the last time.
Since the school’s opening in 2013, IMG Academy’s reputation for recruiting players from across the country has come under scrutiny by many Texans, including the Texas High School Football.
It also set a school record for scoring by defeating Prestonwood Christian, 69-36, on September 6, 2014.
Some Texas coaches expressed the point concerning kids staying in Texas and finishing its high school careers. Growing up in a community of support and building relationships that bind for life are important things that go obsolete when players play for programs such as IMG, said an unidentified coach.
The question yet to be answered. Can the Panthers be a prominent foe with less game exposure, or will IMG Academy’s four games of preparation aid its cause?
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