High School Football Preview: No. 1 IMG Academy Ascenders vs. No. 6 Duncanville Panthers
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
All eyes in the high school football world will be on Arlington, Texas, this Saturday as the No. 1 ranked team in the country, IMG Academy, travels to the Lonestar State to take on the Duncanville Panthers, the No. 6 nationally ranked team.
Both teams enter this battle undefeated, as expected. Duncanville won their opener 41-3 over South Oak Cliff last Friday and IMG Academy, coming in 4-0, took down Life Christian Academy (VA) 52-8 last week.
The sidelines of Globe Life Park, former home of the Texas Rangers, will be lined with Division I talent as these powerful programs collide deep in the heart of Texas.
IMG Academy Ascenders
JJ McCarthy
The general of Ascenders offense is senior five-star quarterback J.J. McCarthy (6’3”, 190), a Michigan Wolverines commit. For the season, McCarthy has thrown for 715 yards and seven touchdowns while also adding 85 rushing yards. Lovasea Carroll (6’1”, 189), a Georgia commit, leads the team with 213 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receivers Ari Allen (5’9”, 165) and Malik McClain (6’4”, 195) are two of McCarthy’s favorite targets. Allen leads the team with 186 receiving yards on 14 catches and one touchdown while McCalin (Florida State commit) has 102 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Junior athlete Keytron Allen is another offensive weapon for the Ascenders as he has chipped in with 190 rushing yards and four touchdowns and 118 receiving yards. Class of 2021 Alabama wide receiver commit Jacorey Brooks (6’3”, 185) is second on the team with 123 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The offensive line is anchored by senior offensive tackle JC Latham (6’6”, 305), committed to Alabama, and center Greg Crippen (6’4”, 285), who is committed to Michigan.
Two big men to watch on the Ascenders defensive line are seniors Marlin Dean (6’6”, 265), a Georgia commit, and Anthony Hundley (6’3”, 270), an LSU commit. The star linebacker on the team is Xavian Sorey (6’3”, 214). Two senior playmakers in the secondary include Markevious Brown (6’0”, 170) and Omar Burroughs Jr. (5’10”, 170). Burrough is a Kansas commit.
Duncanville Panthers
Duncanville is putting a 32-game regular-season winning streak on the line against IMG Academy. Senior Grayson James (6’1”, 200) threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers win last week. All three touchdown passes were caught by senior Roderick Daniels Jr. (5’10”, 170), a Baylor commit who caught a total of nine passes for 183 yards. Junior running back Malachi Medlock (6’2”, 215) and senior running back Suav Persley both had 53 rushing yards and a touchdown last Friday.
The offensive line is anchored by juniors Jaylen Early (6’4”, 260), Cameron Williams (6’6”, 320), and senior Savion Byrd (6’5”, 265).
The Panthers defense is led by senior Alabama linebacker commit Kendrick Blackshire (6’2”, 245). Another linebacker to watch is junior linebacker Jordan Crook (6’0”, 220) who is one of the best players in the Class of 2022 in the state. Two senior stars on the defensive line to watch include defensive end Kevon Ivy (6’4”, 250), a UNLV commit, and defensive tackle Tyler Quinn (6’2”, 266), committed to Colorado State. Two playmakers who patrol the secondary are senior Jadarius Thursby (5 ’10”, 186), a SMU commit, and Cameron Mitchell (6’3”, 190).
Photo credit: The Michigan Daily; IMG Academy QB J.J. McCarthy
Photo credit: Dallas Morning News; Duncanville WR Roderick Daniels Jr.