By John Raffel
It’s not easy going 14-0 and winning a state high school football championship, even though Ithaca has made it look easy, in some respects, while going 14-0 for four straight state championship seasons.
Like many other teams across the state, the Yellowjackets’ ultimate goal will be to win a state title. They’ve obviously got the best credentials, with the nation’s longest winning streak of 56 games.
Ithaca graduated key players, most notably quarterback Travis Smith. The Yellowjackets have a small but talented senior class with only five players. But a solid junior class, with nine players who saw extensive varsity action last year, is one of the reasons that this team could again be dangerous.
“I hope we can hit the ground running,” coach Terry Hessbrook said. “We’ve had a great summer with our 7-on-7 competitions. Our lineman camp went very well. It’s just a matter of getting that offensive line to jell together. Our receivers, I’ve been very impressed with them.”
Hessbrook will have different personnel in various spots in 2014, but he doesn’t expect his team’s playing style to look that much different.
“I think we’ll look exactly the same as last year, only with different people,” he said. “We want to be able to be a two-headed monster, able to run the ball as well as throw it.”
Senior Dallas Reeser, a backup last season to Bryan Shaw, is expected to emerge as one of the workhorses at running back. Reeser, also a defensive player, broke his arm early in the state title game last season.
“He’s a big physical running back, excellent blocker,” Hessbrook said.
Junior Jake Smith has the huge task at quarterback of replacing his brother, Travis, now at Wake Forest University. Travis was a three-year starter and was the state’s offensive player of the year in 2013.
“Our quarterback has to run the football,” Hessbrook said. “They have to be able to do that. Jake certainly presents that he has tremendous, very quick feet. He’s going to be very elusive. I look for Ryan Buckley to carry the ball a little more. He’s probably one of the fastest kids in the program. He’s another one of those kids up last year as a sophomore.”
All eyes will also be on the offensive line, led by juniors Kurtis Ackels and Derek Teed, both returning starters. Ithaca coaches have moved junior Jace Demenov. Hessbrook indicated senior Noah Slater could earn a spot on the offensive line.
“That other spot is really up for grabs,” he said.
Juniors Spencer DeMull, Jonah Loomis, and Tyler Spitzley and senior Myles Waldron are among the candidates at wide receiver. Hessbrook likes his team’s depth at that position. “We’ve got anywhere from eight to 12 kids that can go in anytime during a game,” he said. “Will we play that many? I don’t know. But have some nice kids running around catching the ball this summer.”
Ithaca expects to present both a strong running and passing attack again ths season. “We want to be balanced,” Hessbrook said. “We want to be able to run the ball. We always tell the kids it doesn’t matter to us what the defenses want us to do. If you’re going to drop everybody back, we’re going to run the football. If you’re going to bring everybody up in the box, we’re going to throw the football.”
Hessbrook likes the potential he sees on the Yellowjackets defense. “When we put our front seven out there, I’m very excited,” he said. “Most of those kids saw extended playing time last year.”
Ackels, Loomis, and Teed return to the defensive line. Barnes, Demenov, and Reeser are back at linebacker.
Demenov, who already is getting some attention from college coaches “is an awfully skilled player,” Hessbrook said. “He has the ability to take over a game defensively. He and Dallas Reeser at linebacker, oh boy, we’re fortunate to have players of that caliber.”
Juniors Tyler Spitzley and Spence DeMull are among the key players at defensive back. Grant Gimmey is a junior transfer from St. Johns at receiver and defensive back. “He’s looked very good this summer,” Hessbrook said.
The kicking game, as was displayed in the 2013 semifinal win over Montrose, remains critical for the Yellowjackets if they hope to continue their win streak.
“We’re very fortunate we have Jake Pierce back,” Hessbrook said of his senior kicker. “He was our backup kicker last year. He has a tremendous leg and has put on a little muscle. He’s a two-sport guy. He plays soccer also. The soccer program has been beneficial to us over the last five, six years. Coach [Doug] Strait has been very cooperative and has allowed us to borrow [some] of their players for practices.”
The five seniors will all have major roles.
“Every one of them will contribute, including the kicker,” Hessbrook smiled.