By John Raffel
It’s a relatively small senior class this season for four-time defending Division 6 state football champion Ithaca.
But 12th-graders like 6’4″, 190-pound wide receiver and outside linebacker Myles Waldron hope to play a key role in the Yellowjackets’ drive for another glory season.
It’s his second full varsity season. He was moved up to the varsity late in his sophomore season.
Last fall, “with our team, the secondary players were basically in the whole second half,” Waldron said, noting that experience he and others got should carry over nicely into this season, when he hopes to be a starter.
To get ready for 2014, Waldron participated heavily in the 7-on-7 passing scrimmages.
As a receiver for the Yellowjackets, Waldron wants to use his height to his advantage. “Our quarterback knows where to place the ball,” he said. “He can place it over top, and if you’re tall, you can go up and get it. [Being 6’4″] is definitely an advantage. We’re working a lot with Jake [Jacob Smith, Ithaca quarterback]. Hands and speed is basically what it comes down to.”
Waldron is confident of his ability to get open. He’s been working on the pass game since school ended in June.
Waldron figures the offense will be able to pick up where it left off last year with the transition from Travis Smith to his brother Jacob Smith.
“The way I see it, they’re brothers, and they look exactly the same and they throw the same,” Waldron said. “Hopefully, we’ll have the same outcome.”
As linebacker, Waldron will be expected to play a key role in pass coverage and run defense. “I know where the ball is going,” he said. “I’m tall. I can basically see the whole play.”
Waldron acknowledges the “blessing” it’s been to be a part of a program that has enjoyed stunning success in recent seasons. “Coaches push us hard and we never take any days off,” he said. “We always do the little things.”
It’s not easy going 14-0, and Waldron admits that his senior class would prefer to keep it going.
“Coming up through youth football, we won a total of six games, maybe,” he recalled. “My grade has always lacked players. The seniors have to keep it strong and try to keep the streak going. It’s on us. We don’t want to be the class to lose it. Hopefully we can keep the wins coming.”
The confidence, Waldron said, is still there and could play a key role in another title drive.