KEWANEE WEATHER

Johnston to continue football career at Iowa Western Community College


By Jami Townsend    April 26, 2024
Joining Blake Johnston (center front) at the signing ceremony are his father, Duane Johnston (left) and mother, Lisa Johnston (right). In back are, Corey Tavares (KHS
assistant football coach) and Matt Taylor (KHS head football coach}

Kewanee High School senior Blake Johnston has signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and football career at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. 

Johnston was a standout member of the 2023 Boilermakers team that finished with a record of 8-2 and earned a spot in the IHSA Class 4A post-season playoffs. 

During his senior campaign, Johnston was named to the Three Rivers-Mississippi First Team (Defense) as a defensive lineman. In addition, Johnston holds two KHS football records. He has the Most Career Quarterback Sacks (15) and Most Sacks in a Single Season (11) set in 2023. 

Johnston will join an Iowa Western team that has recorded back-to-back national JUCO titles. The Reivers were 12-1 en route to winning the 2023 NJCAA D1 National Football Championship. The No. 2 Reivers defeated No. 4 East Mississippi (10-3), 61-14, in the national championship game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. 

Iowa Western Community College is a public community college. It was founded in 1967 and offers 84 programs in both vocational and technical areas as well as in liberal arts. It is also home to a flight school.