One of the most anticipated games of the 2024 regular season kicks off Friday night when national power IMG hosts back-to-back state champion Cocoa.
IMG (1-1) is No. 2 on the USA Today-Florida Network Super 25; Cocoa (2-0) is No. 4 on the Super 25.
After a surprising loss in the season opener, IMG had a nice bounce-back win by beating Bergen Catholic 27-14 in New Jersey last week.
Cocoa is coming off a dominant 51-0 win at Mainland, the 2023 Class 3S state champion, in Week 2.
Here’s a closer look at the two teams and the matchup.
By the Numbers
2: Total losses the two teams have combined for since Oct. 8, 2022. Cocoa suffered a controversial 37-36 loss at St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 8, 2023. IMG fell to Corner Canyon (Utah) 35-34 in the season opener. Both losses were on the road at the hands of nationally ranked opponents.
IMG Academy’s Ty Hawkins (2) passes the ball during the third quarter of the Battle at the Beach football game against Bergen Catholic at Carey Stadium in Ocean City, N.J., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
8: Total number of touchdowns IMG senior quarterback Ty Hawkins (SMU commit, No. 33 USA Today-Florida Network Top 100) has accounted for this season. The dual-threat quarterback has thrown for four scores and rushed for four touchdowns this year.
10: Consecutive home wins for IMG Academy — a streak that includes national powers St. Frances (Maryland), St. Joseph’s Prep (Pennsylvania) and Glenville (Ohio). The last team to beat IMG in Bradenton was Miami Central in the 2022 season opener.
Javion Hilson of Cocoa puts the pressure on Dunnellon QB Dylan Curry during their game in the FHSAA football playoffs Friday, November 17, 2023. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
14: Total number of players the two schools have on the 2025 USA Today Florida Network top 100. Cocoa edge rusher Javion Hilson (Florida State commit) is the highest-ranked as the No. 5 player on the list. IMG’s highest-ranked player is wide receiver Donovan Olugbode (Missouri commit), who checks in at No. 14. IMG leads all schools in the state with 12 players on the list.
29: Consecutive games that Cocoa has scored at least 20 points. IMG has allowed just four teams to top the 20-point mark the past three seasons.
Cocoa’s Jayvan Boggs escape tacklers to run for a touchdown during a game with Mainland at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
166.5: Average receiving yards per game this season for Cocoa senior wide receiver Jayvan Boggs. The UCF commit, ranked No. 23 on the USA Today-Florida Network top 100, was named Florida’s Mr. Football in 2023 when he caught 93 passes for 1,493 yards. His 2024 yards-per-game average is more than 65 yards better than it was in 2023.
5 Players to watch for Cocoa
WR Jayvan Boggs: The 6-foot, 190-pound Boggs caught four touchdown passes against Mainland last week. He has nine career multi-touchdown games.
DB CJ Hester: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hester is a four-star recruit with offers from Kentucky, Michigan State, Pitt, UCF and others. He has seven pass breakups the past two season.
Brady Hart of the Cocoa Tigers passes the ball during the game against Titusville Friday, August 23, 2024. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
QB Brady Hart: The 6-foot-5, 195-pound junior committed to Michigan in June. Hart has thrown 48 career touchdown passes at Cocoa.
EDGE Javion Hilson: The five-star recruit is the No. 1 edge rusher in the state. Hilson, who shut down his recruitment during the summer, has three sacks and five quarterback pressures this season.
OL Jaquez Joiner: The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Joiner is a three-star recruit who has been committed to UCF for more than a year.
5 players to watch for IMG
Defensive back Zech Fort (#2) during practice on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 on IMG Academy Football Media Day in Bradenton, Florida.
DB Zech Fort: The 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior is a key piece of a loaded Ascenders secondary. His offers include Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio State and USC.
QB Ty Hawkins: The Elite 11 finalist transferred from Johnson (Texas) in the summer. He has thrown 59 touchdown passes and rushed for 27 scores the past three seasons.
EDGE Jake Kreul: The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior had 34 tackles for loss and 17 sacks at Bishop Moore in 2023. Kreul is a four-star recruit with offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma and Oregon.
Linebacker Gavin Nix (#6) during practice on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 on IMG Academy Football Media Day in Bradenton, Florida.
LB Gavin Nix: The Miami commit is ranked No. 27 on the USA Today-Florida Network top 100. Nix is one of two IMG linebackers, along with Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, ranked in the top 30.
WR Raiden Vines-Bright: Vines-Bright topped the 100-yard mark in the season opener. The speedy Washington commit had 1,114 receiving yards at Corona Del Sol (Arizona) in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida high school football: Cocoa at IMG by the numbers
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Publish date : 2024-09-04 22:08:00
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