IMG Academy Beats NFL Academy 42-40 on Last-Second Field Goal

IMG Academy Beats NFL Academy 42-40 on Last-Second Field Goal

No. 2 IMG Academy blew a 28-0 lead, then Zach Brien's 28-yard field goal with four seconds left beat England's NFL Academy 42-40 in Bradenton. Full Top 25 roundup.

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Four seconds left, a 28-yard field goal, and a 28-0 lead that had completely disappeared. That was the spot IMG Academy kicker Zach Brien walked into Friday night in Bradenton, and he drilled it. IMG Academy beat NFL Academy 42-40 to stay undefeated and hold its No. 2 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25.

NFL Academy, the program based in Loughborough, England, crossed the Atlantic for the game and came within one kick of beating the top-ranked program in the country. On3 has IMG at No. 1 nationally, so by either poll this was an upset in the making.

IMG Academy Jumped Out to a 28-0 Lead

The first half looked like a mismatch. Keith Smith ran for two touchdowns, Elijah Newman-Hall added a rushing score, and quarterback Jayden Wade, a five-star recruit, threw one touchdown and ran for another. Alabama commit Osani Gayles caught a touchdown pass as the Ascenders built the 28-0 cushion, according to MaxPreps national football editor Zack Poff.

Then NFL Academy found its rhythm. Quarterback Diego Tamez connected with Devon Myrie for three touchdowns, and the visitors kept chipping away until they took the lead in the fourth quarter.

Jayden Wade's Drive and Zach Brien's Kick

With the game on the line, Wade marched IMG into field goal range and left Brien four seconds to work with. The 28-yarder split the uprights for the 42-40 final. Per MaxPreps, it was the second time this month IMG has won by two points on a Brien field goal, which says something about the kicker's nerves and about how thin IMG's margin has gotten against top competition.

For NFL Academy, the loss still counts as a statement. Taking the No. 1 or No. 2 team in America to the final play is the kind of result that puts English prospects on American recruiting boards.

South Florida Results From the MaxPreps Top 25

The rest of Friday's slate was a strong one for Florida programs, and especially for South Florida.

No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas rolled past Monarch 71-20. No. 6 Columbus beat No. 22 Central 28-3 in a game called in the third quarter because of lightning. Cecil Smith ran for two touchdowns and Kai Moore threw for another as the Explorers wrapped up the Greater Miami Athletic Conference title. No. 20 Chaminade-Madonna handled McArthur 47-12.

Elsewhere in the Top 25, Alabama power No. 12 Thompson was upset 28-27 by Prattville after its 20-yard field goal attempt was blocked in the final 30 seconds. No. 9 Allen stayed perfect through seven games with a 70-14 win over Rock Hill in Texas, and No. 16 Brownsburg quarterback Oscar Frye threw four first-half touchdowns to Branden Sharpe, running his season total to 28 touchdown passes.

One Top 25 game is left this weekend: No. 15 St. Frances Academy visits Hun on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Sources: MaxPreps Top 25 scoreboard and On3's game recap. More prep coverage on BallerTube's high school football page.