Ithaca is 56-0 and four-time state champion in the last four seasons.

It’s as simple as that.

The Yellowjackets held back Clinton 41-22 Friday at Ford Feld to win their fourth straight Division 6 state title while going 14-0 for the fourth straight year.

The Jackets found themselves behind a couple of times in the game, which featured two 13-0 teams.

Ithaca had built a 14-0 lead on a 15-yard pass from Travis Smith to Josh Hafner and a 30-yard interception return for Smith. But Collin Poore’s 18-yard run and Matthew Saxton’s 86-yard punt return for two touchdowns, and 2-point conversion, gave Clinton a 15-14 lead.

Smith passed to Elia Villalobos for a TD and 21-15 halftime lead. Collin Poore’s 8-yard TD run gave Flint a 22-21 advantage. But Ithaca scored three unanswered touchdowns with Smith passing 14 and 21 yards to Hafner and Logan Hessbrook and Smith running for 10 yards.

 

Smith gained 123 rushing yards and was 17-of-27 for 246 yards and a TD.