The quest for a four-peat begins Thursday, August 29 for the Ithaca Yellowjackets are they open the 2013 high school football season by hosting Williamston.
Ithaca has opened the last two seasons with wins over Williamston and last August the Yellowjackets defeated Williamston 46-0.
Ithaca returns plenty of skill from last year’s state title team led by senior quarterback Travis Smith (6-2, 200). Smith is bigger, stronger and faster this year and has already committed to play college football at the University of Toledo giving Ithaca two quarterbacks on Mid-American Conference rosters along with Alex Niznak at Central Michigan University.
Smith has a pair of talented receivers to throw to in senior Logan Hessbrook (6-3, 195) and Josh Hafner, a transfer from St. Johns.
The Yellowjacket ground game will be spearheaded by senior Bryan Shaw, who has added muscle and strength and checks in at 5-11, 220 pounds this season.
Ithaca will also have another formidable defense led by linebackers Rickey King and Seth Capen.
Williamston has plenty of talent returning from a team that went 7-4 last year and reached the district finals before falling to Three Rivers.
The Hornets are led by senior quarterback Ryan Watters who pilots an explosive passing attack.