Football Preview: Ithaca Yellowjackets vs. Shepherd Bluejays
Ithaca has enjoyed a three-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will challenge the Shepherd Bluejays at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Ithaca knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 31 points or more in their past six games -- so hopefully Shepherd likes a good challenge.
Last Friday, Ithaca took their contest at home with ease, bagging a 52-13 win over Tecumseh. The result was nothing new for the Yellowjackets, who have now won seven matchups by 21 points or more so far this season.
Ithaca had a senior duo take command as Jackson Conn rushed for 61 yards and three touchdowns and Nathan Mikesell rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns on only 12 carries. Mikesell also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, picking up a sack and making 13 total tackles. Gibson Rondy was another key player, picking up 114 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Ithaca was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 256 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 162 rushing yards in eight consecutive matches.
Ithaca didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Elijah Smith.
Meanwhile, Shepherd had to endure a six-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They strolled past Farwell with points to spare on Friday, taking the game 24-7. The Bluejays' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Ithaca's victory was their tenth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 8-0. As for Shepherd, their win bumped their record up to 2-6.
Everything came up roses for Ithaca against Shepherd in their previous meeting back in October of 2023, as the squad secured a 49-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Ithaca since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
