Ithaca-Weston and Iowa-Grant advance in football playoffs, will face each other next Friday Night at Ithaca

Ithaca/Weston scored 18 points in the second half for a come from behind 18-16 win over visiting Blackhawk-Warren. The Warriors led 8-0 just before halftime with a Quarterback Beau Podner to Joe Ketchpaw 16 yard pass that somehow made it through the tight defense of I/W in the end zone. Dax Payquin ran for the 2 point conversion. Blackhawk-Warren took the opening kickoff of the second half and mounted a drive that was capped off by a Payquin 4 yard touchdown run. Podner ran for the 2 point conversion and the Warriors were up 16-0.

The comeback for I/W started when quarterback Jacob Keller threw a 9 yard touchdown pass to Caden Keller. The two point try failed and it was 16-6. The defense was the next highlight for the hosts when Hayden Byrnes recovered a fumble. Ithaca/Weston then capped a drive with a 35 yard touchdown pass from Keller to Keller. When the conversion failed, it was 16-12. Another defensive highlight was an interception by Isaiah Fargen, and later I/W forced the Warriors to turn the ball over on downs with 9:30 left in the game. The offense took over and capped the drive when Jacob Keller threw to Liam Roen for an 8 yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked and Ithaca/Weston led by 2.

The final drive of the game for the Warriors took them deep into their opponents territory before Caden Keller intercepted a pass in the end zone with 8 seconds left. It was the first ever win over Blackhawk-Warren in Ithaca’s history. They ended the campaign at 6-5.

Following the 18-16 win, Ithaca-Weston, now 10-0, will host a level 3 WIAA football playoff game against Iowa-Grant. The Panthers won 38-0 on Friday night ofer Pepin-Alma.