IMG Academy starts a 12,062-mile national schedule on Thursday night vs. Corner Canyon (Utah)

And that’s a total number of miles IMG Academy’s national high school football team will have to travel this season. Which is all initiated this Thursday when they travel by flight and to Draper Utah, to play against Corner Canyon High School. 
 
The Ascenders will begin their season in the competition as the 4th best team in the US according to the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Preseason Power 25. The Chargers open the year at No. 19. 
 
For IMG Academy this type of start of the season on the long road trip is not a novelty because the Ascenders began the regular season of the 2023/2024academic year under the leadership of the head coach Robin Pingeton against the Lipscomb Academy â Heads of Nashville. In front of a packed house the Ascenders dominated with a 35-10 victory of the Mustangs. 
 
For Ascenders’ head coach Billy Miller, he has another strong group after ending the previous season with a 10-0 run. IMG Academy won games against Lipscomb Academy; St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania); Ben Davis (Indiana); Glenville (Ohio); St. Frances Academy, Maryland. 
 
This last year’s travel mileage looks miniature in comparison to this fall IMG Academy travel distance which was (roundtrip) 6,136 miles. To that total this year, the Ascenders are nearly double that with a great set of road games set up. 
 
IMG Academy will face Corner Canyon then head to the ‘Battle at the Beach’ in Ocean City, New Jersey against Bergen Catholic. The opponent they face will be, as always, one of the toughest, during their match against no. 12 ranked team in the nation. Phenix City Central in Alabama ranked number 23 in the nation, East St. Louis, St. Frances Academy in Maryland ranked number 15 in the nation and a short drive on I-75 south to Venice. 
 
Miller said at Suncoast Media Day a couple weeks ago that his team is ready to answer the bell with any of the Top 25 programs in the country including in-state Chaminade Madonna and St. Thomas Aquinas. 
 
“Yeah, it would be great to play (Chaminade Madonna),” Miller said when asked why have there not been a game between the two schools. ‘There has been multiple talks year in and year out and a bout has never been signed and it has not been from MHS. We wish to play the best teams in the state. There is talent in this place. We’d love to play teams like St. Thomas Aquinas too. ’ 
 
Do not be misled on just how talented this particular IMG team is because they have some of the most talented players in each positions in the entire nation. 
 
Switching from Jayden Bradford, a former starter at Liberty, with a potential new quarterback to start will be a narrative to follow until Miller makes his decision. A name to associate with the position is Texas transfer Ty Hawkins who joined the team from San Antonio Johnson in the off season. Hawkins is committed to SMU and passed for more than 2,200 yards and 25 TDS last season. 
 
The weapons on the side of offence can be the giant size of the Ascenders’ offsides, an average height of 6-foot-4 tall and more than 300 pounds. A limited number of high school programs in the United States have the mass and might to challenge IMG’s O-line. 
 
As for defense, a main lineup is comprised of ascenders such Gavin Nix, a linebacker with the Miami commitment, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng also a linebacker and London Merritt, a defensive lineman with the Ohio State pledge. 
 
Stock loaded with talent all over the place, a top-notch coaching staff and some of the finest facilities in the country, IMG Academy on Thursday takes flight multiple time zones away. 
 
It is only 12,062 miles of round tripping across the country, and road to an imaginary national championship begins this week. Buckle up.