IMG Edges St. Joes Prep to Highlight the Second Day at the Beach
Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Gameday Hub, pfn
Phil Myers | August 27, 2023
The final game of day two at Ocean City, New Jersey’s Battle at the Beach Classic was between two nationally ranked top ten teams, #4 IMG Academy from Bradenton, FL and #10 St. Josephs Prep out of Philadelphia. The game did not disappoint the huge throng of thousands of fans in attendance and the ESPN audience at home. With the Division 1 talent of both teams all over the field, the Ascenders of IMG held on to beat the Hawks of St. Joes 17-14.
IMG scored ten points in the second quarter to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room. Then they upped their lead to 17-0 early in the second half before Prep’s Erik Sanchez blocked a punt on the last play of the third and Rameir Hardy scooped it up and pranced into the end zone to put the Hawks on the board. Less than 90 seconds later Anthony Sacca picked up a fumble after IMG’s quarterback was sacked and rambled a short distance for the score to make it 17-14. St. Joes only got the ball back one more time and turned it over on downs at their 45 when a 4th and two run was stuffed.
Samaj Jones of St. Joes being upended by an IMG player.
Jayden Bradford was responsible for both IMG scores as he ran 51 yards to score the Ascenders’ first TD, then he threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Olugbode who made a nice catch and run. Patrick Kane booted a 21-yard field goal for IMG as time ran out in the second quarter.
The opening game of Saturday between West Deptford and Hightstown was an exciting game as well. Hightstown used three big plays to put themselves in the win column. Devron Lewis scored on two of them. He returned the opening kickoff 85 yards to give the Rams a lead they never relinquished. He put the final touch on the scoring when he raced 45 yards to ice the game with 2:25 left in the contest. Aiden Carter blocked a punt, grabbed the ball, and scored the touchdown for Hightstown’s other TD early in the third quarter. West Deptford’s Eagles outgained the Rams 246-91 unofficially but could only score once. That was in the third on a 4th down Brady Cobb quarterback keeper for 16 yards that cut the West Deptford deficit to 13-7.
Devron Lewis crosses the goal line on his 48-yard run.
The second game of the day was a St. Thomas Aquinas 42-7 victory over Paul VI. The Trojans dominated much of the game. They held the Eagles without a first down in the first half and built a 28-0 lead at the same time. Chase Young showed the way for Thomas Aquinas by scoring 3 touchdowns, including a 23-yarder late in the first to begin the scoring. Jack Joyce, the Trojan kicker, was Impressive by kicking high, deep kickoffs and sending his 5 extra points far beyond the goal posts. He attempted a 51-yard field goal but it was blocked. TheTrojan defense held Paul VI to under 100 yards and scored too when Zacai Manigo had a 40-yard pick six.
In the third game of the day, the Rancocas Valley Red Devils scored two 4th quarter touchdowns to get past the Union Farmers 21-6. Leading only 8-6 heading into the last stanza, Jameer Bellamy broke loose for a 35-yard score at the 7:16 mark. That was followed late by big Malachi Castle’s short plunge with sixteen seconds remaining. Castle also tallied the other Red Devil touchdown when he caught a screen pass and went untouched for a 20-yard score. Union’s score was on an O’Malley King to Renick Dorilas 26-yard TD toss.
Malachai Castle, RV’s 6’3″ 225 lb. back finds some running room against Union.
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