Butch Harmon
Sports Scene
Led by an explosive offense that features balance and an improving defense, the Ithaca football team is off to a fast start this season.
The Yellowjackets reeled off five straight wins to begin the season. Included in the wins as a thrilling 30-22 win against Standish-Sterling and a 35-14 win against Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
Offense has been a highlight for Ithaca in the early going as the Yellowjackets are putting up 42.2 points per game. Defensively, Ithaca is showing steady improvement and is allowing 7.2 points per game.
“We are 5-0 so far and at a good point right now,” said Ithaca coach Jordan Hessbrook. “Our offense has been a strong point. We have shown the ability to run and throw the football and that makes us much tougher to defend. Defensively, we have some young guys who are getting experience at the varsity level and our older guys are stepping into their roles and embracing their roles.”
On offense, the Yellowjackets are led by senior quarterback Jackson Conn. A talented dual-threat quarterback, through the first five games this season Conn has completed 56% of his passes for 687 yards and 12 touchdowns. Conn has also rushed for 374 yards (5.4 avg.) and scored 12 rushing touchdowns.
Conn has a variety of receivers to throw to. Senior Nathan Mikesell has caught 11 passes for 236 yards (21.5 avg.) and five touchdowns while senior Ryley White has hauled in 11 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Riley Guild has stepped in with 10 catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore wide receiver Gibson Rondy has 10 catches for 161 yards and three scores.
Nathan Mikesell leads the Yellowjacket running game. Mikesell has rushed for 605 yards and scored five touchdowns this season.
“Jackson is putting up decent numbers running and passing,” Hessbrook said. “Nathan Mikesell has played well running and receiving. When you look at our receivers we are pretty balanced. Ryley White, Riley Guild, Connor McMurphy, Gibson Rondy and Elijah Smith can all catch the ball. We have quite a few guys we can throw to out there.”
Paving the way for the backs and receivers is an outstanding offensive line that continues to improve.
“Our line is starting to gel into a unit,” Hessbrook said. “We have three returning starters in Nicholas Mikesell, Lloyd Stoneman and Broden Peska. Nicholas is a three-year starter and Broden is a four-year starter. Junior Kenny Daniels and sophomore Broghan Bupp round out the line and are doing a good job for us.”
The Yellowjacket defense is also rounding into form.
“Nathan Mikesell is our leading tackler at inside linebacker,” Hessbrook said. “Roman Hurosky has stepped up at outside linebacker. Our defensive line of Broden Peska, Nicholas Mikesell, Karter Araujo and Aiden Smith has played well. We start a couple of sophomores in the defensive backfield and they are starting to get their feet under them.”
Nathan Mikesell leads the Ithaca defense in tackles with 59 along with six tackles for loss while senior Roman Hurosky has 49 tackles. Senior Karter Araujo and sophomore Broghan Bupp have 22 tackles apiece. Sophomore Aiden Smith has 21 tackles while senior Nicholas Mikesell has 20 tackles. Bupp and Smith also have four tackles for loss apiece. Sophomore defensive back Elijah Smith has two interceptions.
With the season heading into the home stretch, the Yellowjackets have some key games coming up including a week seven game against an unbeaten Saginaw Nouvel team and a week eight non-league game against Tecumseh, a much larger Division 4 team.
Menu