Thompkins, McFarland Power IMG Academy Past The First Academy in Kickoff Classic Blowout

Louisville commit Le’Khy Thompkins and sophomore standout Eric McFarland account for all six Ascenders touchdowns in dominant preseason win

Sophomore wide receiver Eric McFarland scored three touchdowns -- one rushing, two receiving -- to lead No. 6 IMG Academy of Bradenton, Fla., to a 41-7 preseason Kickoff Classic victory against The First Academy of Orlando on Thursday, / Jeff Gardenour

ORLANDO – It may have been just a preseason Kickoff Classic high school football game, but the Le’Khy Thompkins-Eric McFarland Show came to town on Thursday night for IMG Academy. The pair led the nationally ranked Ascenders to a 41-7 win over The First Academy.

Thompkins’ Power, McFarland’s Speed

The two athletes combined for all six of the Ascenders’ touchdowns as IMG pulled away from The First Academy before a big crowd. The Ascenders, ranked No. 6 in the High School on SI national football rankings, used a 21-0 third-quarter outburst to put this game on ice and send many of the TFA fans scurrying to the exit.

“No problem with the effort and with how they played,” said IMG Academy first-year coach Greg Studrawa. “But we made too many mistakes and too many penalties. We got to clean it up.”

Thompkins and McFarland more than made up for any IMG miscues. Thompkins, a powerfully built 6-foot-2, 236-pound senior transfer running back from Trinity Christian Academy in Jackson, Tenn., proved to be a big load to bring down.

The Louisville commit scored on a 2-yard TD run at the end of the first quarter to give IMG a 13-7 lead, and then a nifty 9-yard TD run in the second quarter when he dragged three defenders with him into the end zone to push the Ascenders ahead 20-7.

McFarland, an electric 5-8, 173-pound sophomore wide receiver, ran for one score – an 80-yard run around left end and down the sideline – and caught two TD passes (35 and 23 yards) from sophomore quarterback Jayden Wade.

With IMG holding just a 20-7 lead at halftime, it was McFarland that blew the game open with his two TD receptions in the third quarter. Thompkins then polished the game off with a nice 14-yard TD run with 3:24 left in the third quarter.

“Two weapons, man,” Studrawa said. “We’ve got big guys that can protect them and we give them the ball. We’ll take that all day.”

TFA Starts Fast, Then Falters

The First Academy, which went 9-1 on the field last season before being forced to forfeit all of its victories for FHSAA rules violations, opened some eyes early when Jaelyn Powell found a gap in the line and exploded 57 yards to paydirt with just 11:32 left in the first quarter.

But it was all IMG after that as The First Academy dropped passes, overthrew receivers, and missed multiple interception opportunities in a game that felt self-defeating for the Royals more than anything else.

IMG’s Defensive Standouts

Defensively, IMG edge rusher Jake Kreul, a former Bishop Moore star in Orlando, recorded multiple sacks, including three straight in one series. He has committed to Oklahoma.

What’s Next

On Aug. 22, IMG opens the regular season at Hoover (Ala.), while TFA hosts Milton (Ga.).

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Pregame Notes

Officially it's a preseason contest, but Thursday's Kickoff Classic clash between visiting IMG Academy and The First Academy in Orlando is still a massive showdown.

IMG Academy is coming off the first two-loss season in school history after going 7-2 in 2024, but the Ascenders are right back in the mix for a national championship in 2025, checking in at No. 6 in the High School On SI Preseason National High School Football Rankings.

The Ascenders will take the field in 2025 under new head coach George Studrawa, a longtime college assistant at both Ohio State and LSU.

The First Academy is seeking to bounce back from a tough 2024 season in which the Royals were forced to forfeit nine wins, turning a 9-1 season into an 0-10 campaign. TFA head coach Jeff Conway was suspended for the entire 2025 season after the FHSAA ruled that 10 players participated in summer workouts with the program before they were officially enrolled in the school. The Royals were also banned from the state playoffs in 2024 and 2025.

Players to Watch

• Steven Pickard Jr, OL – Pickard is a 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive lineman, who is committed to Syracuse for the 2026 class.
• Zeke Fort, DB - Georgia
• Keenyi Pepe, OT - USC
• Michael Carroll, OL - Alabama
• Gavin Nix, LB - Miami

From The First Academy

• Landen Holley, QB - A Class of 2027 quarterback, who transferred from Wesley Chapel. He holds 10+ offers from schools like Florida, Georgia Tech, Purdue and Virginia Tech, among others.
• Brian Dillard, ATH
• Kingston Shaw, Edge

Pick The Winner

Let us know who you believe will win by trying your hand at our Pick 'Em challenge.

Live Updates

	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
IMG Academy	13	7	21	0	41
The First Academy	7	0	0	0	7

1st Quarter

TFA TOUCHDOWN: Jaelyn Powell runs 57-yards to put the Royals on top, 7-0 in the first minute of the contest. TFA leads 7-0

IMG Touchdown: Eric McFarland puts the Ascendars on the board with an electrifying 80-yard touchdown.

IMG Touchdown: Louisville commit Le’Khy Thompkins gives IMG the lead with a 2-yard rushing TD. IMG leads 13-7 after one quarter.

2nd Quarter

IMG Touchdown: Thompkins reaches paydirt for the second time, this time from 9-yards out. The Ascenders lead 20-7.

3rd Quarter

IMG Touchdowns: McFarland scores on back-to-back TD receptions, of 23 and 35 yards, to break open the contest. IMG leads 34-7.

IMG Touchdown: Thompkins joings McFarland with three touchdowns each, as scores on a short run to stretch the IMG advantage to 41-7.

4th Quarter

No scoring.