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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover captains Cooper Tullo(12) and Josh Smith(17) walk to mdifield for the coin toss during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Action during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Jamari Buye(2) is tackled after a reception during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Cooper Tullo(12) tacks on yards after a completion during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover kicker Constantine Hontzas(38) gets off a punt during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Malik Thomas(11) looks for running room during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover offensive lineman Christian Ledbetter(75) leads the blocking during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover cornerback Codey Martin(2) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver RJ Hamilton(80) is tackled after a reception during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Massiah Tolen(4) evades a tackler during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Malik Thomas(11) turns upfield after a reception during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Josh Smith(17) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive lineman Drew Tountasakis(44) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver RJ Hamilton(80) makes a fair catch during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover cornerback Codey Martin(2) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive lineman Markus Clark(41) sacks the quarterback during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Jason Riles(27) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Marcus Williams(5) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Josh Lundy(18) looks over the defense during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive lineman Markus Clark(41) fights through a block during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Anthony Hayes(6) carries the ball for a nice gain during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Evan Reeder(17) looks downfield during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Evan Reeder(17) throws a pass during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Jason Riles(27) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive lineman Drew Tountasakis(44) makes a tackle during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Action during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Anthony Hayes(6) drags tacklers for a nice gain during a game between IMG Academy and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
HOOVER -- This was no week of rest for No. 3 Hoover heading into the Class 7A playoffs.
For the third straight year, the Buccaneers lost the regular season finale to IMG Academy, a school based in Bradenton, Fla., which boasts elite talent from all over the country.
In this 38-7 Ascenders win, Kaytron Allen rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns. Hoover finished the regular season 8-2 and will host Sparkman, the No. 3 team in Region 4, next Friday. The Bucs finished second in Region 3 behind Thompson.
“We’re going to play the best competition we can play around here,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said. “We’ll learn something from this. We’ll lock in and get ready for the playoffs. This is the season we play for around here and we’re excited about it.”
Allen’s first-half touchdowns came on runs of 4 and 13 yards, and he scored on a 79-yard run to open the second half.
Hoover had some chances. Quarterback Josh Lundy barely overthrew a wide open Cooper Tullo, who was streaking down the middle of the field, after IMG took a 10-0 first-quarter lead. Down 17-7, Hoover forced a third-and-15, but Ari Allen took a screen pass and went 46 yards for a touchdown. IMG Academy (9-1) led 24-7 at halftime.
Hoover falls to IMG
“We had some opportunities in the game,” Niblett said. “We had a couple of times offensively to connect and make some plays. We get a score and cut it to 17-7 and they get a big play on us.”
Hoover’s lone touchdown came on a second-quarter 3-yard run by Anthony Hayes, who led the Bucs with 45 rushing yards.
IMG Academy rushed for 255 yards in the win and held Hoover to 100 total yards. Lundy finished 7-of-19 for 52 yards and threw an interception to Elias Ricks, a five-star recruit ranked as the No. 12 player in the country by 247Sports. He is committed to LSU.
Melvin Jordan, a sophomore committed to Florida State, also intercepted a pass. IMG Academy featured a safety in Lejond Cavazos who is committed to Ohio State and a Clemson commit in offensive lineman Demonte Capehart, along with several other high-profile recruits throughout all classes.
Niblett said that Robby Ashford, the Bucs’ electric senior quarterback who is committed to Ole Miss, will return for the playoffs. He injured his foot in the third game at Thompson and has not played since.
“Our biggest thing this week is we’ll learn something from this, grade this tape, figure out where we’re at and get ready for Sparkman this week,” Niblett said. “This is what we play for.”
Click here to purchase photos from the game.
