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.