Winners find a way to win.
That’s the Ithaca way.
Facing the most daunting of scenarios – trailing by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with the season in the balance – the Yellowjackets dug deep into their history and heritage and played like the championship program they are.
Gibson Rondy punched in two touchdown runs in the decisive final frame, rallying Ithaca to a stunning 22-21 victory over host Laker in the Division 7 district title games.
The win propels Ithaca into the regional final at Pewamo-Westphalia in Week 12.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our players,” Ithaca coach Jordan Hessbrook said. “They responded to adversity the whole night and never turned away from it. So proud of the way they were able to continue to fight, stick together and find a way to win.”
Laker spent the bulk of the game trying to find a way to deny Ithaca of that win, and seemingly had the tradition-rich Yellowjackets on the ropes.
Lucas Wehner’s 45-yard interception return for a touchdown staked the Big Thumb Conference White co-champion Lakers to a 21-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
But Ithaca never relented. Led by a huge performance by Rondy, the quarterback who was 19 of 37 passing for 201 yards and touchdown while rushing for 182 yards and two scores on 29 carries, Ithaca turned the tide.
Rondy scored from 1 yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter then ran in the conversion to draw within 21-15. When he duplicated that 1-yard plunge with 4:41 to play – and Landon Bratschi booted the crucial PAT – Ithaca had its first lead of the day.
“We moved the ball well and kept field advantage in the first half,” Laker coach Dave LeVasseur said. “Ithaca made some adjustments that put us in second- and third-and-longs. Eventually, that flipped the field and they beat us in the big-play department.”
Laker’s head football coach Dave LeVasseur prays with the team before a high school football game at Laker High School on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Millington won the game over Laker, 14-3.Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com
Laker had the home crowd buzzing early, as Luke Good caught a 57-yard TD toss from Grant Buchholz then threw a 22-yarder to Wehner for the 14-0 lead.
Rondy hit Riley Guild for a 26-yard score as Ithaca drew within 14-7 in the third quarter. But Wehner’s pick six had the Yellowjackets facing another two-TD deficit.
It was one they would overcome, rallying to win the program’s 15th district title.
Guild finished with five receptions for 63 yards and the score for Ithaca while Elijah Smith caught seven balls for 55 yards and Bratschi caught four passes for 52 yards.
Laker got a solid performance from Buchholz, who was 4 of 10 passing for 70 yards and rushing 13 times for 58 yards. Kade Wisenbaugh led the defense with 12 tackles while Matt Murdoch and Levi Renn added eight apiece.
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