[private] It was a White Out at Hemlock. Ithaca junior Ryley White unleashed a diverse arsenal on the Huskies’ home field, with a receiving touchdown, a kickoff return touchdown, an interception and recovered fumble as the Yellowjackets blanked Hemlock 54-0 last Friday.
This was the fourth time this season that Ithaca has topped 50 points, as the state’s No. 2 ranked Division 8 team improved to 5-0.
The week before against Standish-Sterling, Hemlock quarterback Chad Brown threw for 432 and five touchdowns. The Yellowjackets made it a much tougher go, limiting him to 79 passing yards. Ithaca’s defense forced him into 14 hurries and Brown was sacked three times by Ithaca’s Broden Peska, twice by Nicholas Mikesell and once by Karter Araujo, Kaleb Hallock and Brandon Pass.
White had Ithaca’s lone pick of Brown. His fumble recovery at the start of the second quarter led to an eight-yard touchdown run by Noah Risner and a 28-0 lead. White then scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Conn and in the third quarter on an 81-yard kickoff return. White had two receptions for 86 yards.
Conn was 5-for-12 passing for 157 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a 15-yard touchdown pass to Owen Mikulka and a 50-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Mikesell.
Mikesell also ran for a pair of touchdowns. Risner led the Yellowjackets on the ground running 13 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Parker Wood ran for his first career touchdown. Ithaca’s rushing attack piled up 300 yards between eight runners on 35 attempts. Conn ran five times for 46 yards.
Peska led Ithaca with nine tackles. Nicholas Mikesell had eight tackles; Kaleb Hallock seven tackles; Collin Thrush six tackles; and Pass and Gavin Gilbert five tackles apiece.
Ithaca plays host to 2-3 Saginaw Valley Lutheran in a TVC-White matchup tomorrow, Friday.[private]