By John Raffel
When Ithaca football players came up from the basement level and locker rooms at Ford Field to the first level, they were greeted with thunderous applause from the hundreds of Yellowjackets fans waiting to greet their favorite high school football team.
Everyone would have preferred welcoming players who had just won the state title and their 70th straight game. But following the 22-12 loss in the Division 6 title game to St. Mary Catholic Central, the fans realized what a true, unique moment this was.
One of those fans was Alan Jones, whose son, freshman lineman and linebacker Nick Jones, was on the varsity for the playoffs. “They have nothing to be ashamed of; they did a real good job,” Jones said. “69-1 is pretty good.”
Fans were encouraged by the spirits maintained by Ithaca players after the game. “They’re up pretty good,” Jones said. “They’re down a little bit. But they’re all right. There’s always next year.”
That sentiment was shared by many Yellowjackets fans, who realize that the bulk of the team will be back next season. “We have a young team,” Jones said. “We only lose [five] seniors.”
Being an Ithaca football fan has been fun. “Awesome,” Jones said. “I’ve been following them the last last four years.”
Down to the end, Ithaca fans, including Jones’ brother, Junior, were hopeful it would continue. “It was a great game,” he said. “This is a great team.”
Students, including junior Michaela Slater, were swept up in Yellowjackets fever and didn’t let the loss in the title game dampen their spirits. The season and the trip to Ford Field was an enjoyable experience for them. “I’m proud that they made 69,” Slater said. “Everyone was pumped up about this.”
Junior Alysa Betcher agreed. “I’m so proud of them,” she said, while acknowledging hopes of being back in the title game next year.
Bob VanNortwick of Meridian, grandfather of quarterback Jake Smith, was among the devoted fans who had reason to note that the Yellowjackets won the game on the stat sheet, if not on the scoreboard. Three turnovers hurt Ithaca’s title hopes.
What has impressed VanNortwick has been the work ethic displayed by Ithaca players this season and beyond. “They’ll be back the weight room tomorrow,” he said.
The appreciation of the fans, the disappointment of the loss, and the hope for the future were also reflected by players and coaches after the game. “It’s definitely different, a different feeling. We fought hard and I’m proud of my teammates” Smith said. “All of us juniors and underclassmen will be back at work come Monday. We don’t want to come up short again.”
“We have a lot of guys back, but it’s not about that,’” coach Terry Hessbrook said. “It’s about the seniors that played their last high school football game.”