It may have taken overtime to finish the job, but Ithaca ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They skirted past the Michigan Lutheran Seminary Cardinals 42-40. That's more bragging rights for the Yellowjackets, who also won the pair's last head-to-head.
Ithaca's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Greyson Merchant led the charge by rushing for 48 yards and three touchdowns, while also throwing for 224 yards and a pair of TDs on only 17 passes. Merchant also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making three total tackles and defending one pass in addition to snagging an interception. Ithaca's leading receiver Elijah Smith was Merchant's top target yet again, picking up 89 receiving yards, while also rushing for 84 yards on only seven carries.
Yellowjackets
| Greyson Merchant | 1 |
| Riley Guild | 1 |
| Jacob Crawford | 1 |
Ithaca didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Merchant, Riley Guild, and Jacob Crawford picked up one apiece. Crawford got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
When it comes to explaining why Michigan Lutheran Seminary lost, don't look at Andrew Miller. Despite the final result, he threw for 229 yards and four TDs, and also rushed for 108 yards and a pair of scores. Miller didn't just play on offense: he also made six total tackles and defended three passes. 90 of Miller's passing yards were hauled in by Noah Reif.
The win was the third in a row for Ithaca, bringing their record up to 3-0. The victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they've averaged 45.0 points this season. As for Michigan Lutheran Seminary, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 2-1.
Coming up, Ithaca will welcome Carrollton at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Michigan Lutheran Seminary, they will head out to take on Nouvel Catholic Central at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
