IMG Academy football has hosted up-and-coming programs for their last two home games.
The Ascenders, No. 5 in the USA TODAY Super 25, needed a game-winning field goal in both contests.
IMG (8-0) downed NFL Academy Europe, 42-40, on Oct. 16 in Bradenton behind a 28-yard field goal from Zach Brien (Cal commit).
NFL Academy Europe is an elite football development program for international players, but they looked every bit of an American team against the Ascenders.
After falling into a 28-3 deficit at halftime, NFL Academy clawed their way back into the game behind a hard-nosed, physical effort that tested IMG's up front. Quarterback Diego Tamez was commendable in the comeback effort, testing the Ascenders' defense with surgical strikes and impressive mobility outside the pocket.
"That's what we were expecting," said IMG head coach Greg Studrawa. "We were expecting a physical team. They're big and strong lads. They've got some guys ... they stuck with their plan and kept being physical with us and we've got to get some guys back and get healthy, but to fight through that adversity really shows me a lot."
How IMG Academy slipped into a close game late vs. NFL Academy
Tamez connected with Devon Myrie for a 74-yard touchdown pass towards the end of the third quarter that trimmed the IMG lead to 31-17. Myrie took a 67-yard pass to the end zone a few minutes later, then shrugged off four Ascenders on a 17-yard catch that he muscled into the end zone.
In nine minutes of game time, the British tight end caught three passes for over 150 yards and three touchdowns. Tamez and Myrie helped give NFL Academy a 32-31 lead with six minutes to play after a 2-point try carried in by Tamez.
A run-heavy drive from the Ascenders tried to bleed the clock. The Ascenders cut almost three minutes of time with a touchdown drive capped off by a short keeper from Jayden Wade. IMG Academy's 2-pt conversion got busted up, but Osani Gayles (Alabama commit) scooped up a fumble in the backfield before lobbing it to a wide open Wade. IMG led 39-32 with three minutes to play.
Nothing easy about this two-point conversion for IMG Academy! What a sequence. 🔥🏈 pic.twitter.com/vHxIitFcUm
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) October 17, 2026
Gayles was an invaluable release valve for IMG, which has struggled to keep players healthy in recent weeks. He finished with eight catches for around 100 yards and a touchdown catch. IMG even ran out of running backs in crunch time, and leaned on linebacker Amarri Irvin (Virginia Tech commit) for carries on the final possession.
"DJ (Alexander) and Amarri where in there making play after play after play when we're down to two guys up front who were taking so many plays they could barely stand on the sideline. Then (Amarri) has to run it on offense because we've got no running backs left! That kind of toughness, that kind of care about your team is the thing I like best about this team."
How IMG pulled out victory late
With less than 3 minutes to play, Andrew Gomon broke free for an 80-yard touchdown carry right up the gut of IMG's defense. NFL Academy had given the Ascenders' defensive front issues in the second half, and they cashed in on their last few drives.
Conversely, IMG Academy's offensive line never really found their rhythm. Wade was flushed out of the pocket consistently, forced to try dangerous cross-body throws across traffic or pick up the yardage with his legs. Luckily for IMG, the Georgia commit is good enough to get away with it, but the issues were glaring.
"Even though bad things happen, guys don't give up," Studrawa said. "If there's a second on the clock, fight. I think they take that to heart. Now, we've got to clean up so many things it's unbelievable. But that aspect of team never dying is awesome, and I think they have that."
A surgical drive from Wade, mixed in with some strong carries from Elijah Newman-Hall (Ohio State commit) got the Ascenders well inside Brien's range. He booted through the 28-yarder, marking his second made field goal of the game and second game-winner in three weeks.
"It meant a lot that my team trusts me to put me out there," Brien said. "All those dudes did great, the field goal operations did amazing, protection guys really stepped up when it counted. I just did a small part and I'm glad I could come through for my boys."
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: IMG Academy leans on top recruits to outlast NFL Academy in thriller