No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 16-6 victory against host Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach) and cap a second consecutive undefeated season.
The game was part of the Under Armour Brothers in Arms Classic.
Bishop Sullivan took a 6-0 lead in the fourth quarter, but attempted to convert a fourth down deep in its own end. When IMG (11-0) stopped the play, the Ascenders took over in the red zone. Kellen Mond would score on a 1-yard run for his 18th rushing TD of the season and IMG led 7-6.
Late in the fourth quarter, Bishop Sullivan was driving for a go-ahead score and went for it on fourth-and-3 with less than three minutes remaining. That attempt was stopped, and two plays later Tre McKitty made a one-handed catch in stride and raced to a 91-yard TD for a 14-6 lead.
The final points came on a safety with less than a minute remaining when Josh Kaindoh sacked Crusaders QB Tyler Desue in the end zone.