Stagg Bowl XIX
Ithaca 34, Dayton 20
Bradenton, Fla.

Ithaca captured its third national championship with a 34-20 win over Dayton in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl at Hawkins Stadium in Bradenton, Fla.

Junior fullback Jeff Wittman and senior split end Nick Ismailoff combined for five touchdowns for the Bombers in the win. Wittman scored three touchdowns and finished with 159 yards rushing on a school playoff-record 30 carries. Wittman’s touchdown runs covered 1, 3 and 6 yards.

Senior quarterback Todd Wilkowski completed 15 of 25 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdown passes went to Ismailoff, who made 10 receptions for 193 yards.

The defense was equally impressive. In the second half, Ithaca did not allow a first down and yielded only 13 yards to the Dayton offense. Junior linebacker Billie Mays Jr. had 10 tackles and senior strong safety Joe Palladino picked off two passes and made nine tackles.

Ithaca held Dayton to 135 rushing yards, 112 below its season average entering the game. The Flyers were making their seventh Stagg Bowl appearance.

First quarter
Dayton: Hofacre 17 pass from Keller (Burns kick)
Ithaca: Wittman 1 run (kick failed)
Dayton: Burns 30 FG
Second quarter
Dayton: Alexander 9 run (Burns kick)
Ithaca: Ismailoff 42 pass from Wilkowski (Sullivan kick)
Ithaca: Wittman 3 run (Sullivan kick)
Fourth quarter
Ithaca: Wittman 6 run (Sullivan kick)
Dayton: Burns 24 FG
Ithaca: Ismailoff 32 pass from Wilkowski (Sullivan kick)

Att: 5,469

Individual leaders

Rushing: IC — Wittman 30-159; Wilkowski 18-63; Adams 10-51.
UD — Miller 11-55; Peterson 12-35.

Passing: IC — Wilkowski 25-15-1, 262; Wittman 1-0-0.
UD — Keller 16-9-1, 71; Daniels 5-1-1, 8.

Receiving: IC — Ismailoff 10-193; Gamble 3-47; Slayton 2-22.
UD — Franks 3-24, Taylor 3-22.

Playoff results