Venice (Florida) shuts out IMG Academy White behind balanced offensive attack

The Indians amassed over 200-plus yards rushing as they picked up their seventh straight win

VENICE, FLORIDA - In search of a seventh straight win, the Venice Indians stuck to what has worked for them: Playing balanced offensively.

Keeping IMG Academy White's defense off balance with an uptempo offensive attack and working the ground and pass game, the Indians have their sights set on finishing the regular season strong. 

Venice compiled 462 total yards of offense as they defeated IMG Academy White 43-0 Friday night at Powell-Davis Stadium. The Indians moved to 7-2 on the season and the Ascenders fell to 7-1. 

John Peacock's group started fast and furiously offensively, scoring on the game's opening offensive series. A pair of 20-plus yard runs by Colorado commitment Jamarice Wilder (six carries, 68 yards) led to the Indians scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jadyn Glasser (Central Michigan commitment) to running back Chad Fleming. 

Finding their groove offensively has never been an issue for the Indians as they entered the game averaging a cool 43.6 points per game. 

Venice extended its advantage late in the first quarter when Glasser (15-of-26, 209 yards) connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Griffin Gisotti to go up 15-0. It was the 2-point play afterwards that silenced the packed crowd on hand. 

.@GlasserJadyn connects with @GisottiGriffin on a 36-yard touchdown pass. PAT good. @VeniceIndianFB 15, @IMGAFootball 0, 1st Q 1:54@SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL @JohnReynoldsSNN @PMOWriter @DanLaForestFB @larryblustein @JonSantucci @CenFLAPreps @football305407 @HSFBamerica… pic.twitter.com/5UWo50gM8q

— Andy Villamarzo (@Andy_Villamarzo) October 27, 2023

Indians’ quarterback Ryan Downes went down with a leg injury and the game was paused for near 15 minutes before he was carted off the field. The entire team surrounded Downes before he was carted and gave the thumbs up to everyone in attendance. 

"It kind of affected our whole team there for a little bit," Peacock said. "(Ryan Downes) is one of the kids that's worked his tail off throughout the entire off-season. I know it affected the kids. It affected me. That really hurts us and more than just being a football player. He's just a great dude."

The Indians would continue to pour it on in the first half and made it 22-0 when running back Alvin Johnson entered the scoring frenzy, punching it in from four yards out. Johnson would lead all rushers with 134 yards on 12 carries, scoring two touchdowns on the night. 

.@AlvinJohnson05 on the very next play scores from 4 yards out @VeniceIndianFB 22, @IMGAFootball 0, 2nd Q 9:31 @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL @JohnReynoldsSNN @PMOWriter @DanLaForestFB @larryblustein @JonSantucci @CenFLAPreps @football305407 @HSFBamerica @FLgridironpreps @in_huddle… pic.twitter.com/oIkGgPbWvs

— Andy Villamarzo (@Andy_Villamarzo) October 28, 2023

For IMG Academy White, it was tough sledding the entire way for quarterback Ely Hamrick and running back Clay Ash (West Virginia commitment). Hamrick finished the evening with under 40 yards passing and Ash ended with a team-high 124 yards on 13 attempts. 

Hamrick ended up going down with a leg injury just before halftime and senior back quarterback Alex Neura would enter the game. The Ascenders would never threaten to score in the second half as they finished with under 200 yards of offense. 

The shutout win for the Indians marks just the second time they've held the opposition to zero points. Next Friday, Venice will welcome a tough Clearwater Academy International club that has notched wins recently over Lakeland and Sarasota Riverview. Both are teams the Indians are very familiar with. 

"We try to schedule tough teams every week," Peacock added. "Obviously you can't schedule your district games, but you can't make everyone play ya. We are all about competition."

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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl