BONUS COVERAGE: Niznak leads Ithaca to first-ever football state title

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

DETROIT — Alex Niznak was the man of the hour Friday night for Ithaca. And man of the year and perhaps the decade for the tiny town near Mount Pleasant.

The senior quarterback, headed for Central Michigan, scored an MHSAA finals record five rushing touchdowns, including two inside the final 2:02, to lift the unbeaten Yellowjackets to their first prep football state championship in school history at Ford Field.

Ithaca (14-0) won the Division 6 state title with a 45-35 triumph over Monroe St Mary Catholic Central. The Yellowjackets did so by coming back from a seven-point halftime deficit and a four-point, fourth-quarter hole to finish off a dream season.

With his team trailing 35-31 late in the fourth-quarter, Niznak guided his team on an11-play drive which was capped on his 7-yard scamper with 2:02 left , which proved to be the game-winning points.

“When we were in that situation, I turned to (Ithaca) coach (Terry) Hessbrook and he said that we have to score. I told him that it was going to be all right. They gave us too much time,” offered Niznak.

“When we got the ball back, I knew we had plenty of time. I knew they were giving us that 401 (defense) look. We had to take what they gave me,” continued Niznak. “We marched right down and when we got close, they were still in that 401 because they thought we would throw the ball. We had the run play (down) and I kept following the blocks so I could get into the end zone.”

Ithaca forced the Falcons to turn the ball over on downs on their final drive, then Niznak added an insurance tally on a 36-yard run with 56 seconds left to ice the game.

Ithaca came back from deficits of 21-7, 28-24 and 35-31 to earn the school just its third state crown in all sports. The Yellowjackets, who reached the state semifinals last season before bowing out to Montague, last won a state crown in boys golf in 1974. Before that, Ithaca also won a title in boys cross country in 1954.

“It’s been a long time for this community,” said Hessbrook.

St. Mary Catholic Central built a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, thanks to a 3-yard run by Luke Yinger, a 15-yard sprint by Couturier and a 18-yard run by Jack Cusumano with 7:08 left in the second quarter.

Zach Moore finished with 77 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns and Daniel Couturier added 74 yards on 11 carries for St. Mary. The Falcons had only three receptions as a team.

“When we were down 21-7, I was very, very nervous,” admitted Hessbrook. “That’s when I pulled the offense in and reminded them that defense had carried us (in recent games) and tonight we’re going to bring in the OK Corral and have our offense step up and make plays.”

Niznak and his talented offensive contingent answered the call, scoring six touchdowns on the night.

Niznak scored on a 2-yard plunge that tied the game late in the first quarter. Garrett Miniard found paydirt on a 5-yard run just 47 seconds left before halftime to close the gap to within 21-14 at the half.

Niznak forged a tie to open the third quarter on a 5-yard gallop, and Zach Whipple’s 40-yard field goal gave the Yellowjackets their first lead at 24-21 with 4:45 to play in the third.

That set up four lead changes over the final 16 minutes.

Moore scored on a pair of 2-yard runs, the last coming with 5:10 left in the game that gave St. Mary CC its last lead at 35-31.

“That had to be one heckuva game (to watch) as a fan if you didn’t care who won,” said an exhausted Hessbrook. “My hats off to (St Mary coach) Jack (Giarmo) and his kids. They did a fantastic job. They are a tremendous football program. I wasn’t sure if we could stop them in this game. That was a major concern.”

Stopping Ithaca was a major concern for the Falcons, who were outgained 475-342 in the contest.

Niznak finished with 138 yards on 15 carries and Markes Gadlen and Miniard combined for 87 yards for the Yellowjackets.

Niznak was also a fine 22-for-26 passing for 230 yards, while Luke Capen had 11 catches for 134 yards, Charles Schnetzler added five catches for 61 yards and Jake Acker added 43 receiving yards on three catches for the Yellowjackets.

“We just couldn’t stop their quarterback. He’s a great ballplayer,” conceded Giarmo.

“I can’t take anything away from them. They are a great football team and they did a great job preparing for us,” added Giarmo. “We couldn’t stop their offense. We scored enough points to win a game, but they have a quarterback who can do a lot of different things. They are dangerous.”

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Tags: high school football, high school football state finals

Category: Prep Wraps