Bergen Catholic (NJ), this week’s No. 11 team in the SBLive/SI Top 25 National High School Football Rankings, opens its 2024 season with a special meeting with the nation’s No. 7 team, IMG Academy (FL), on Thursday night at the Bash at the Beach Classic in Ocean City, New Jersey.
The two teams last met in 2015 and combined for 106 points as IMG prevailed in the shootout, 59-47.
You can watch Bergen Catholic vs IMG Academy live on D2 Sports Network.
What: Bergen Catholic vs. IMG Academy in the Bash at the Beach Classic.
When: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, August 29
Where: Carey Stadium | Ocean City, New Jersey
How to watch the live stream online: Watch Bergen Catholic vs IMG Academy live on D2 Sports Network
Make your choice: Do you think you know who will win this duel? VOTE HERE
The Crusaders enter the opening game of the 2024 football season with the positive experience of three consecutive New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Nonpublic state championships and appear to be even stronger in the fall.
Bergen Catholic is looking to get some revenge for last year’s 40-point loss to another Florida football powerhouse, Chaminade-Madonna, at the 2023 Broward County National Football Showcase and will look to do so with a much improved defense.
The Crusaders are led by head coach Vito Campanile and his son, senior quarterback Dominic Campanile. Dominic Campanile has completed 131 of 221 passes for 2,028 yards and 30 touchdowns in the 2023 season.
IMG Academy got off to a slow start in a Top 25 road game against Utah’s Corner Canyon last week and was thwarted in its attempt at a late comeback when it failed on a two-point conversion attempt with less than two minutes left in the game, losing 35-34.
As painful as that was, the experience of having already played a game should benefit the Ascenders in this matchup with Bergen Catholic, who are playing their season opener. IMG has never started a season 0-2 and has never lost more than one game in a single season since their inaugural year in 2013.
In the Ascenders’ loss to Corner Canyon, the team got a standout performance from senior quarterback Ty Hawkins, who was playing for the first time at IMG. Hawkins completed 17 of 23 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran three times for 35 yards and another touchdown.
Bookmark High School on SI for all the latest high school football news. Also, keep an eye on our Live Updates post for ongoing updates from the Bergen Catholic vs. IMG Academy football game. We’ll keep you in the loop all season long.
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