Georgia homecoming for three IMG Academy football players this week

It’s the No. 2-ranked team in the nation taking on the No. 4-ranked team.

It’s televised nationally on ESPN2.

It also means something else for IMG Academy’s Isaiah Pryor, Robert Beal and T.K. Chimedza: a homecoming.

The three previously played high school football in Georgia and are returning there this weekend when the Ascenders, USA Today’s No. 4-ranked team in the country, face Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) at 6 p.m. on Saturday as part of the 2016 GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff, which features 10 games in three days.

“I’m so happy I get to come home, because I only live 10 minutes away,” Pryor said.

IMG’s goal to win a national title began with last weekend’s Kickoff Classic victory over Miami Carol City, but the regular-season opener at Grayson is where that dream could end in a nightmare.

The Rams were a state semifinalist last year and enter the 2016 season ranked No. 2 in the country by USA Today.

“I think the whole state of Georgia is going to go to that game,” Pryor said. “I think it’s going to be really packed.”

For Pryor and Chimedza, it’s a chance to exact some revenge from the 2015 season.

Pryor, a senior safety committed to Ohio State, played his junior year with Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.). Grayson defeated Archer with a last-second field goal during an early-season encounter.

So when Grayson popped up on the Ascenders’ schedule after Pryor transferred to IMG Academy, he was excited to face the Rams again.

“I heard they’ve got a team over there that’s willing to be, trying to be, one of the best in the nation,” Pryor said.

Pryor also has a different personal connection in facing Grayson this time around. Both Grayson and Archer are rivals in the Greater Atlanta area. Pryor was originally set to play at Grayson, growing up with many of the current players during his youth football days.

But Archer opened up in 2009, and the school getting built shifted Pryor to play against Grayson during his first three high school seasons.

It’s also a chance for Pryor to play on ESPN again. He’s experienced in the past during Georgia state playoff games.

Meanwhile, Chimedza, a junior defensive lineman, is getting his first national television exposure.

“You try not to think about it that much, but I’m probably going to get a little nervous before the game,” Chimedza said. “But as soon as I step on the field and get a play or two in, I’ll be ready to go.”

Playing at Dacula (Ga.) last year, Chimedza said he had a good game against Grayson, but his team lost 40-0.

“I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I’m ready to hit any green jersey in my sight.”

The game is also expected to become a one-off for the two powerhouse programs. In fact, it’ll be IMG’s last against any Georgia high school team.

Earlier this month, the Georgia High School Association altered a by-law beginning with the 2017 season that no Georgia programs can play an out-of-state program that has restrictions placed on it from its own association.

IMG is an independent in the Florida High School Athletic Association that can’t compete in the playoffs.

“We control what we can control,” IMG head coach Kevin Wright said.

What Wright is focused on, though, is defeating a Grayson team that boasts several top-level college recruited players.

“Whenever you’ve got athletes, a lot of things can happen and there will be a lot of athletes on the field,” Wright said. “So I think that going into the game, just understanding that there’s going to be highs and lows and keep playing through whatever happens. And try to take the game to the fourth quarter and find a way to win it.”

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 10:30 PM with the headline "Georgia homecoming for three IMG Academy football players this week."