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IMG Academy-St. Frances Academy matchup not being rescheduled

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo6 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo
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The IMG Academy Blue Crusaders run onto the field from their tunnel. The IMG Academy Blue Ascenders hosted the North Port Bobcats for a Thursday night varsity football game in Bradenton. (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK)

High school football fans won’t get the dream matchup they had hoped for.

The 1-2 matchup between nationally ranked IMG Academy–St. Frances Academy will not be happening as the game won’t be rescheduled, according to a social media post by the Ascenders on Friday morning.

While we were originally scheduled and excited to face St. Frances this evening, given how the season unfolded with the teams becoming the consensus top two teams in the country, there was a unique opportunity to reschedule the matchup into a nationally televised championship that required the date to be moved to mid-December, creating a nearly six-week layoff between games. That extended break raised understandable concerns around player health and safety and the college transition for our seniors. After extensive consideration of what’s best for our student-athletes, the difficult decision was made not to participate in the rescheduled game.

At IMG Academy, our purpose extends beyond championships. We take great pride in helping student-athletes grow as leaders, and their maturity, unity, and character have made us incredibly proud throughout this difficult decision.

When news broke of No. 1 IMG Academy and No. 2 St. Frances Academy, per the latest Rivals National High School Football Composite Rankings, would not be played as scheduled, rumors swirled on if the mega matchup between the two adversaries would even get played.

Now folks will be left to imagine what could have been between two of the country’s arguably best high school football programs.

The series is currently tied 3-all between the two programs as they first started playing each other back in 2016. Since then, the longest a team has won consecutively is twice, with the Panthers winning in 2019 & 2021 and the Ascenders in 2022 and 2023.

Last year’s meeting was played in Baltimore, with St. Frances Academy handing IMG Academy its second loss of the season, a crushing 30-3 defeat.

This meeting would have held more juice compared to the previous six matchups as many national rankings have both teams regarded as the top two in the country. Of the two, St. Frances Academy has the only loss, a 21-14 defeat at the hands of St. John Bosco (Calif.) back on Sep. 5.

How to Follow National High School Football

For national high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals National High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals National High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the gridiron excitement across the country.