Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
DETROIT, MI – Ask most football coaches what makes a championship team, and they will tell you it starts in the trenches with the offensive and defensive lines.
Ithaca football coach Terry Hessbrook is one to agree with that, and he is one who should know.
Friday, November 23, Hessbrook’s Yellowjackets won their third straight Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 6 state championship and 42nd straight game with a 37-27 victory over Constantine at Ford Field.
Hessbrook has had two constants in this great winning streak, senior linemen Josh Capen and Bradley Martyn. Both have started all 42 of those games, Capen on both sides of the ball, and Martyn on the offensive line.
“They are probably two of the most physical kids I have ever coached,” Hessbrook said. “Obviously, neither one is very big, but they are as tough a player as I have ever coached.”
Capen stands 6 feet tall and weighs 220 pounds, while Martyn is 5’8″ and weighs 175 pounds.
Capen and Martyn say what they lack in size, they make up for in leverage and speed, which causes fits for bigger opposing linemen.
“We have fast and strong kids that are willing to work hard,” Capen said. “That’s what it takes.”
Martyn agrees and says lot of that work ethic comes from his position coach.
“Coach John Mimranek has helped us become more disciplined, on and off the field,” Martyn said. “He pushes us every day in practice and doesn’t expect anything but our best. Ever since he has become our offensive line coach, we have improved.”
Hessbrook has seen it and says that is what has made his offense so potent in the past three years.
This year, the Yellowjackets gained nearly 5,000 total yards on offense.
“The offensive line has to do their job up front,” Hessbrook said. “You can have all the playmakers you want, but both lines have to do their job to be successful. And we have had great play from both of our lines during this streak.”
The other players on Ithaca’s offensive line are seniors Layne Helms and Mike Mallory and junior Grant Mills.
Capen credits a lot of what he and the current senior class have learned to former teammates.
“Coming up as a sophomore, that was tough, but when you have leaders like we had, it made it a lot easier,” Capen said. “My brother Luke Capen, Jory Purvis, and Alex Niznak, they all taught me a lot and what it takes. They made it easier, and hopefully we did that now for the younger players on this team.”
Added Martyn: “This has been incredible, to start in 42 games and go through all of this, it’s been incredible. I hope it continues to go on, but nothing is guaranteed.”
One thing that is guaranteed is that Ithaca will have solid offensive line play.