Ithaca roared to an 9-0 regular season and is taking aim at a third straight state title, backed by talent that includes some three-year players looking for a three-peat.
Coach Terry Hessbrook has five three-year players who were on the 2010 and 2011 state title teams – Jacob Barnes, Josh Capen, Tyler Gibson, Markes Gadlen, and Bradley Martin.
They’ve all seen starting action three straight seasons.
Barnes and Gibson are linebackers, Capen and Martin are two-way linemen, and Gadlin is a wide receiver.
Gibson and Barnes “are both very physical kids; they give us a tremendous amount of speed on the outside,” Hessbrook said. “Capen and Martin are probably two of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached. They’re tremendous football players, in great condition and play hard every play.”
Gibson plays outside linebacker on the team. He started until he hurt his knee as a sophomore. He’s started every game since his junior year.
“My role at linebacker hasn’t changed much, but as a leader, I guess it’s changed,” Gibson said. “I’m there to lead the troops and get them ready.”
As a linebacker, “I’m pretty quick to the ball,” Gibson said. “I’m usually one of the first or second guys there most of the time if it goes to the side. I think quickness is one of my strengths.”
The Yellowjackets have won 37 straight and are five wins shy of three perfect 14-0 seasons.
The key has been “our team chemistry,” Gibson commented. “We’re all friends and work well together. We played good as a team. That’s a main reason. We also have talent.”
It’s obviously been plenty of fun going 37-0. “The most fun this year is trying to win with our senior class. Hopefully we can go all the way,” Gibson said. “This year has been a lot of fun.”
Martin agrees. He was asked what his reaction would have been in 2010 if he was told Ithaca would win two state titles, go 14-0 each of those two seasons, and be 9-0 and gearing for a third straight crown his senior season.
“I would have said, ‘I don’t know about that.’ I never would have expected it,” he replied. “It’s been our hard work and dedication every day, even working in the summer.”
Martin said he’s not sure if this is his best season. “On defense, I’m improving a lot more than last year. I’ve gotten stronger,” he said. “On offense, I think I’m around the same.”
But Martin echoed a thought from the others that his game intelligence has improved. “I knew the plays more, people asked me what the plays are. It used to be the other way around, when I had to ask people what to do. I’ve improved a lot this year compared to the last few years.”
With a 37-game winning streak, the veteran players have extensive confidence.
“But when it comes to the playoffs we change that attitude and take it one game at a time,” Martin said. “We just play our best.”
All five players have enjoyed every minute of the undefeated streak.
“It’s been great,” Martin said. “I don’t know what to say. We’ve enjoyed it a lot. We’ll never forget it.”
And Hessbrook won’t soon forget his five special third-year players.
He calls Gadlin “ ‘Mr. Excitement.’ He plays on our offense but is a true special team player,” Hessbrook said. “We like to keep him back on returns. When he gets the ball in his hands, he has the potential to always go the distance.”
But, Hessbrook adds with a smile, “he’s had some of the most exciting 8- or 9-yard runs you’ve seen, going on each side of the field. He’s a very exciting player to watch. He’s our slot receiver on offense.”
All five have impressed Hessbrook with their progression since starting as sophomores.
“You bring kids up as sophomores because you have gaps to fill,” Hessbrook said. “You fill them with sophomores. As you bring up sophomores, you do that so they can be dominating players as seniors. They’ve all become dominating seniors at their positions.”