IMG & Venice Kickoff Season Tonight
This evening, the nation’s No. 1 team – IMG Academy will travel to Venice to open the 2020 high school football season in the state of Florida. In addition, there are several other games. We have the schedule for you.
In this article:
What was thought three months ago as impossible will very much be possible tonight throughout the state of Florida.
While many areas are still not back conditioning and getting ready for the 2020 high school football season, there are several programs who will start the year this evening.
Highlighting the season openers is a nationally-televised broadcast (8:00) when the country’s No. 1 rated IMG Academy will travel down the road from Bradenton to play 7A power Venice.
First year Head Coach Bobby Acosta and his Ascenders are loaded with talent once again this season – and an ESPNU audience will have the chance to see a team that everyone is picking as the best in the nation.
An independent program, the Ascenders have played most of their games the last five seasons — 29 of 47 — against out-of-state opponents.
Last year, IMG opened with and beat Venice 46-7.
Acosta, who took over for Kevin Wright in January, is looking to maintain the success that has added up to a 44-2 record over the past five seasons.
Acosta is no stranger to high level competition – coaching at the College of St. Scholastica last season and previously at Syracuse, Cornell and Bucknell.
His team is loaded with prospects going everywhere from Alabama to Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and several other national powers.
For veteran coach John Peacock and his Venice Indians, who always play a challenging schedule, there is plenty coming back from last year’s team that fell short in the state semifinals.
Peacock, a former All-State player in Florida, has long prided his teams as being well rounded – away from the football field. He wants to develop young men as much as he does want to get these prospects on to the next level.
The Indians, who seek out the top programs to play each year, have some impressive talent as well.
IMG PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
2022 – Kaytron Allen, RB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32911" first="Jared" last="Behrens"], OLB
2022 – Tyler Booker, DT
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32617" first="Jacorey" last="Brooks"], WR
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32689" first="Markevious" last="Brown"], CB
2021 – Lovasea’ Carroll, RB
2022 – Daylen Everette, CB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32674" first="Greg" last="Crippen"], OL
2022 – Trevon Howard, CB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32705" first="Anthony" last="Hundley"], DL
2022 – Dominick James, DL
2021 – JC Latham, DE
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32618" first="J.J." last="McCarthy"], QB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32657" first="Malik" last="McClain"], WR
2022 – Shawn Miller, WR
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32824" first="Jake" last="Renda"], TE
2022 – Dane Shor, OL
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32621" first="Xavian" last="Sorey"], OLB
2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="32697" first="Kamari" last="Wilson"], S
2021 – Pete Zuccollo, FS
VENICE PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
2021 – Colin Blazek, QB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32830" first="Charles" last="Brantley"], CB
2022 – Damarion Escort, RB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32845" first="Steffan" last="Johnson"], Athlete
2022 – Desavion Cassaway, LB
2021 – Jackson Fleming, S
2023 – Trenton Kintigh, DT
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32879" first="Ethan" last="Mort"], OL
2022 – Jayshon Platt, WR
2022 – Mike Rainey, OL
2022 – Martin Ramos, LB
2021 – Kade Reyher, LB
2022 – Carson Smith, QB
2021 – Dylan Turner, QB
2023 – Elliott Washington, CB
2022 – Myles Weston, WR
2021 – Luke Wheatley, K
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32709" first="Weston" last="Wolff"], WR
OTHER GAMES TONIGHT
American Collegiate at West Oaks Academy
Aucilla Christian at Zarephath Academy, 6
Bishop Snyder at Hilliard
Bradford vs. Baker County at Memorial Stadium
Cambridge Christian at St. Petersburg Catholic
Carrollwood Day at Northside Christian
Cedar Creek Christian at Christ’s Church Academy
Central Florida Christian at Zephyrhills Christian
Chipley at Graceville, 7 CT
DeSoto County at Charlotte, 7:30
Eagle’s View vs. Halifax Academy at Ormond Beach Sports Complex
Evangelical Christian at LaBelle
Faith Christian at Mount Dora Christian, 7:30
Fernandina Beach at Yulee
Florida High at Taylor County, 7:30
Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) at First Baptist (Naples)
Holmes County at Freeport, 7 CT
IMG Academy White at Tampa Catholic
Jefferson County at Madison County, 7:30
Jesuit at Bishop Verot
Lafayette at Brookwood School, Ga., 7:30
Lighthouse PCA at Baker, 7 CT
Marco Island Academy vs. Oasis at Caloosa Football Field
Newberry at Hawthorne
North Bay Haven at Franklin County
North Florida Educational at Providence
North Port at Sarasota, 7:30
Ocala Christian at Bronson
Orangewood Christian at Foundation Academy
P.K. Yonge at Trenton, 7:30
Port Charlotte at Hardee, 7:30
Port St. Joe at Marianna, 7 CT
Santa Fe at Suwannee, 7:30
Sneads at Liberty County, 7:30
South Walton at Walton, 7 CT
Southwest Florida Christian at Community School of Naples
St. Francis Catholic at St. Joseph
St. Johns Country Day vs. Munroe Day at Corry Field
West Nassau vs. Palatka at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Wewahitchka at Cottondale, 7 CT
Williston at Branford, 7:30
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on Twitter (@PrepRedzonefl)
While many areas are still not back conditioning and getting ready for the 2020 high school football season, there are several programs who will start the year this evening.
Highlighting the season openers is a nationally-televised broadcast (8:00) when the country’s No. 1 rated IMG Academy will travel down the road from Bradenton to play 7A power Venice.
First year Head Coach Bobby Acosta and his Ascenders are loaded with talent once again this season – and an ESPNU audience will have the chance to see a team that everyone is picking as the best in the nation.
An independent program, the Ascenders have played most of their games the last five seasons — 29 of 47 — against out-of-state opponents.
Last year, IMG opened with and beat Venice 46-7.
Acosta, who took over for Kevin Wright in January, is looking to maintain the success that has added up to a 44-2 record over the past five seasons.
Acosta is no stranger to high level competition – coaching at the College of St. Scholastica last season and previously at Syracuse, Cornell and Bucknell.
His team is loaded with prospects going everywhere from Alabama to Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and several other national powers.
For veteran coach John Peacock and his Venice Indians, who always play a challenging schedule, there is plenty coming back from last year’s team that fell short in the state semifinals.
Peacock, a former All-State player in Florida, has long prided his teams as being well rounded – away from the football field. He wants to develop young men as much as he does want to get these prospects on to the next level.
The Indians, who seek out the top programs to play each year, have some impressive talent as well.
IMG PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
2022 – Kaytron Allen, RB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32911" first="Jared" last="Behrens"], OLB
2022 – Tyler Booker, DT
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32617" first="Jacorey" last="Brooks"], WR
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32689" first="Markevious" last="Brown"], CB
2021 – Lovasea’ Carroll, RB
2022 – Daylen Everette, CB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32674" first="Greg" last="Crippen"], OL
2022 – Trevon Howard, CB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32705" first="Anthony" last="Hundley"], DL
2022 – Dominick James, DL
2021 – JC Latham, DE
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32618" first="J.J." last="McCarthy"], QB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32657" first="Malik" last="McClain"], WR
2022 – Shawn Miller, WR
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32824" first="Jake" last="Renda"], TE
2022 – Dane Shor, OL
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32621" first="Xavian" last="Sorey"], OLB
2022 – [player_tooltip player_id="32697" first="Kamari" last="Wilson"], S
2021 – Pete Zuccollo, FS
VENICE PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR
2021 – Colin Blazek, QB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32830" first="Charles" last="Brantley"], CB
2022 – Damarion Escort, RB
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32845" first="Steffan" last="Johnson"], Athlete
2022 – Desavion Cassaway, LB
2021 – Jackson Fleming, S
2023 – Trenton Kintigh, DT
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32879" first="Ethan" last="Mort"], OL
2022 – Jayshon Platt, WR
2022 – Mike Rainey, OL
2022 – Martin Ramos, LB
2021 – Kade Reyher, LB
2022 – Carson Smith, QB
2021 – Dylan Turner, QB
2023 – Elliott Washington, CB
2022 – Myles Weston, WR
2021 – Luke Wheatley, K
2021 – [player_tooltip player_id="32709" first="Weston" last="Wolff"], WR
OTHER GAMES TONIGHT
American Collegiate at West Oaks Academy
Aucilla Christian at Zarephath Academy, 6
Bishop Snyder at Hilliard
Bradford vs. Baker County at Memorial Stadium
Cambridge Christian at St. Petersburg Catholic
Carrollwood Day at Northside Christian
Cedar Creek Christian at Christ’s Church Academy
Central Florida Christian at Zephyrhills Christian
Chipley at Graceville, 7 CT
DeSoto County at Charlotte, 7:30
Eagle’s View vs. Halifax Academy at Ormond Beach Sports Complex
Evangelical Christian at LaBelle
Faith Christian at Mount Dora Christian, 7:30
Fernandina Beach at Yulee
Florida High at Taylor County, 7:30
Gateway Charter (Fort Myers) at First Baptist (Naples)
Holmes County at Freeport, 7 CT
IMG Academy White at Tampa Catholic
Jefferson County at Madison County, 7:30
Jesuit at Bishop Verot
Lafayette at Brookwood School, Ga., 7:30
Lighthouse PCA at Baker, 7 CT
Marco Island Academy vs. Oasis at Caloosa Football Field
Newberry at Hawthorne
North Bay Haven at Franklin County
North Florida Educational at Providence
North Port at Sarasota, 7:30
Ocala Christian at Bronson
Orangewood Christian at Foundation Academy
P.K. Yonge at Trenton, 7:30
Port Charlotte at Hardee, 7:30
Port St. Joe at Marianna, 7 CT
Santa Fe at Suwannee, 7:30
Sneads at Liberty County, 7:30
South Walton at Walton, 7 CT
Southwest Florida Christian at Community School of Naples
St. Francis Catholic at St. Joseph
St. Johns Country Day vs. Munroe Day at Corry Field
West Nassau vs. Palatka at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Wewahitchka at Cottondale, 7 CT
Williston at Branford, 7:30
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on Twitter (@PrepRedzonefl) 
