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Dominant second half effort leads Ithaca past Michigan Lutheran Seminary
By Kelsey Hessbrook:
Ithaca – Trailing 14-13 at halftime Ithaca held Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary to 32 yards in the second half and defeated the Cardinals 33-14 at Ithaca High on Friday.
Ithaca (3-0, 2-0), the four-time Division 6 champion, now has won 59 consecutive games, the longest in the country.
The rain never stopped in the Tri-Valley Conference West Division game and field conditions were less than ideal.
The Yellowjackets got on the board first, but MLS scored on their next two drives. Cardinals receiver Casey Williams scored on a 40-yard pass to give MLS a 14-7 lead.
Running back Dallas Reeser plowed his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line to bring Ithaca to within 14-13 with 1:32 left in the half.
Ithaca’s defense rose to the occasion in the second half of play to shut out the Cardinals.
"Our defense played very well," Ithaca Coach Terry Hessbrook.
Junior quarterback Jake Smith put the Yellowjackets in the lead for good, 19-14, with a 16-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left in the third quarter.
Ithaca’s offense kept the momentum going as Smith threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to receiver Spence DeMull. Tyler Spitzley finished out the scoring with a touchdown run with 2:29 left in the game.
MLS falls to 2-1 on the season, 1-1 in the division.
Ithaca will go for 60 straight when it travels to St. Louis for another division game next Friday.
