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| (Chuck Cordes ~ Ohsfbmedia.com) |
MINERVA, Ohio--The Hornets of Kirtland have taken themselves to Canton for the OHSAA Division VI State Championship game versus Coldwater, defeating Galion Northmor 41-7.
Kirtland head coach Tiger LaVerde making a shot at an 8th with his no passing offense, with a whopping 480 yards on the ground.
After a stalemate first quarter where neither team scored a point it wouldn't take long to get going on a frigid night.
Opening up the second quarter after early fumble, Kirtland would drive the ball down to the 2-yard line and junior QB Jake LaVerde would punch in for the first score of the game with 10:42 left to go up 7-0 after a Xavier Lasecki PAT.
Northmor would strike back and score a 57 yard pass from AJ Bower to Cowin Becker with 8:54 left in the quarter that would be the only score for the Golden Knights.
Kirtland scoring would continue as LaVerde would score again with senior RB Danny Alfieri getting in the mix and score on a 7 yard run with 1:11 left in the quarter.
"Physically we just dominated them," said Jake LaVerde.
The third quarter would be much of the same as the Hornets would rally off 21 points to close out the quarter and begin a running clock after scores by Alfieri, LaVerde and Jack Lessick, again all on the ground.
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| (Danny Alfieri and Jake LaVerde Photo: Gene Simmons ~ Ohsfbmedia.com) |
"I mean I think we have the best line in the state, they make the running backs jobs easy by just opening up big holes for us," said Alfieri.
Northmor did not establish much of a running game only having gained 14 yards for the game, as most know you have to be able to run the ball in these types of elements.
Golden Knights quarterback AJ Bower was a bright spot in the air going 17 for 33, 212 yards and 1 TD, and 2 interceptions.
Final from Hines Stadium @OHSAASports Div. VI State Semi-final.@kirtlandFB 41
— Ohio High School Football/Basketball Media (@OHSFBMedia) November 30, 2024
Galion Northmor 7
Kirtland is headed to Canton for the Division VI State Title looking to get Tiger Laverde his 8th championship.
Kirtland 400+ yards of offense by end of 3rd Qtr. pic.twitter.com/D3thYaN80l
Going for title number 8 is a huge accomplishment and shows the work put in by the athletes, coaches and their mental toughness, "You know what they work hard I don't think people understand the hours they put in, there's no shortcuts," said the senior LaVerde. "This starts when these kids are very young and you know we got good youth coaches and good middle school coaches, I can't say enough about how hard they work and how well they executed tonight."
Kirtland will play the Coldwater Cavaliers for the OHSAA Division VI State Championship Saturday, Dec. 7 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on the campus of the Hall of Fame Village.
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