IMG Academy at Hoover (Ala.): Live Score Updates as Ascenders Visit Iconic Alabama Power - Aug. 22, 2025

IMG Academy brings its national Top 10 pedigree to Alabama where host Hoover looks to pull a season-opening upset

The Hoover Bucs kick off their 2025 high school football season by welcoming in national power IMG Academy, Friday night. /

Hoover, one of the nation's most iconic high school football programs and the current No. 4 team in the Alabama Preseason Top 25 rankings, opens its season on Friday night with a chance to make a major statement. The Bucs welcome in IMG Academy, the No. 1 team in Florida and the No. 6 team in the High School SI Power 25 national rankings.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Despite a preseason coaching change, Hoover navigated the adversity to produce a 10-3 record, including a pair of playoff wins in 2024. IMG went 7-2 last year, the first time in program it lost two games in the same season, but have loaded up for another national title run in 2025.

Players to Watch

IMG Academy

• Keenyi Pepe, OL - The No. 25 player in the country and the No. 4 offensive tackle, Pepe is a 5-star committed to USC.
• Jake Kreul, Edge - Kruel, a 4-star Oklahoma commit, sacked everyone but the mascot last week's Kickoff Classic romp over The First Academy in Florida.
• Amarri Irvin, LB - A 4-star linebacker in the Class of 2027 keeps getting better.

Hoover

• Tyson Bacon, LB - A four-star senior committed to the University of Miami.
• CJ Cowley, RB - Power and speed are trademarks of this 4-star junior stud.
• Jonah Winston, WR - This 3-star senior wideout is the No. 24 ranked player in Alabama.

Streaming and Tickets

If you want to follow along with our updates you can watch a Live Steam of the contest on the NFHS Network.

Pick 'Em

Play High School On SI's Pick 'Em and choose who you think will win below.

IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Hoover (Ala.): Live Score Updates as Ascenders Visit Iconic Alabama Power - Aug. 22, 2025

	1	2	3	4	F
IMG Academy	20	0	14	0	34
Hoover	7	0	0	6	13

Updates will be placed here when the game begins. Refresh for the latest update.

Pregame:

IMG Academy National Ascenders travel to Hoover for a nonleague matchup at The Hoover Met on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CDT in Hoover, Ala.

1st Quarter

IMG strikes first for six, but the PAT is blocked. The Ascenders lead 6-0 with over 9 minutes left in the first.

Hoover answers, and they convert the PAT. Jonah Winston takes the quick screen pass for a 39-yard touchdown.

Hoover's defense stands tough as they hold IMG to a 4th and 10 and force them to punt. 5:37 left in the first.

With just over three minutes left, IMG takes over on Hoover's own 30-yard line.

IMG pulls out ahead with a 13-7 lead with 1:15 left in the first. Le'Khy Thompkins takes it from a few yards out, hurdling a defender, for his second touchdown of the game.

And just like that, the game is blown wide open in the first. AJ Marks of IMG intercepts the Hoover pass, and he takes it back for a 28-yard touchdown.

2nd Quarter

Hoover has found new life as the Ascenders botched the snap on the punt, and the Buccaneers take over with a first and goal coming up.

It has been a defensive slugfest here in the second quarter, but the Bucs are seven yards away from making this a touchdown game. 2nd and goal coming up.

Hoover's offense stalls with a golden opportunity to cut the lead to 6, and then their special teams unit misses the field goal to cut the lead to 10. IMG has to drive the length of the field with under 2 minutes left in the half.

That is the end of the half as the Ascenders take a two touchdown lead into the break. Hoover squandered their opportunity to cut the lead with under two minutes left, and they need to clean up their mistakes in the second half if they hope to get back into this one.

3rd Quarter

IMG extends their lead to three touchdowns as Jayden Wade runs the play-action to perfection, and he connects with Eric McFarland for a 29-yard touchdown. IMG leads 27-7 with 7:58 left in the quarter.

With under four minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucs defense gets a crucial stop on fourth down. Thanks to that key defensive stop, there is still hope for Hoover to mount a comeback.

With one quarter still left to play, IMG appears to have put this game on ice as they now lead 34-7 with one minute left in the quarter. With that score, Thompkins has now scored three touchdowns tonight.

4th Quarter

Credit to Hoover for not giving up in this one. Buccaneers receiver, Jeremiah Tabb, hauled in a 30-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to a three touchdown deficit. The PAT was no good, and IMG leads 34-13 with 4:45 left in the game

That will do it here from Hoover as the IMG Academy National Team Ascenders defeat the Hoover Buccaneers 34-13.

IMG will look to improve to 2-0 next week when they travel to take on Winslow Township (NJ) in the "Battle at the Beach." Meanwhile, Hoover will look to bounce back next week when they travel to Spain Park.