Friday Night Preview: Kirtland looks to rebound at Rootstown after historic road streak ends

Kirtland at Rootstown Football

Kirtland and Rootstown enter Friday’s CVC Valley Division opener with identical 2-1 records, but the Hornets arrive in unfamiliar territory after Perry snapped their historic 54-game road winning streak.

Steve Hare
By Steve Hare
Comments 0

has spent more than a decade making road games look routine.

Friday night will be anything but.

The Hornets travel to Rootstown for a Valley Division opener just one week after a 31-10 loss at Perry ended Kirtland’s remarkable 54-game road winning streak, the longest by an OHSAA program since 2000.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Both Kirtland and enter the game at 2-1, and both are 0-0 in the Valley Division. Yet the circumstances surrounding those records are considerably different.

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Rootstown comes in with momentum after a 35-0 shutout of Trinity. Kirtland comes in following one of the rarest events in Ohio high school football over the past two decades — a Hornets loss.

History suggests the response may be just as significant as the loss itself.

A 54-game road streak comes to an end

Kirtland’s 31-10 loss at Perry did more than hand the Hornets their first defeat of 2026.

It ended a 54-game road winning streak that stretched back to the 2015 season.

The previous road loss in Kirtland’s historical database came on Sept. 4, 2015, when Grand Valley defeated the Hornets, 30-21.

For more than 11 years after that night, Kirtland did not lose another true road game.

Perry finally ended the run Sept. 4.

The Pirates and Hornets were tied 10-10 at halftime before Perry scored 21 unanswered points in the second half. Kirtland finished with 249 yards of offense, including 189 on the ground, but two turnovers proved costly.

rushed 18 times for 70 yards and added two receptions for 38 yards. rushed for 43 yards and Kirtland’s only touchdown while completing 5 of 9 passes for 60 yards. added 31 rushing yards.

Now comes a situation Kirtland has handled extraordinarily well throughout ‘s tenure.

What happens after Kirtland loses?

Losing once under LaVerde has been rare.

Losing twice in a row has been almost nonexistent.

Looking at every Kirtland loss during the LaVerde era through the end of the 2025 season, the Hornets went 18-3 in their next game following a loss. That figure includes season-opening victories following season-ending playoff or state championship losses.

When limiting the sample to losses that occurred with another game still to be played in the same season, Kirtland is 8-2 under LaVerde in the game immediately following a loss.

Even that does not fully illustrate how long it has been since Kirtland experienced consecutive defeats.

The Hornets’ last back-to-back losses came in September 2009.

Hawken defeated Kirtland, 31-28, on Sept. 17, 2009. One week later, Cuyahoga Heights beat the Hornets, 20-10.

It has not happened since.

Beginning with that loss to Cuyahoga Heights, each of Kirtland’s next 12 losses through the end of the 2025 season was followed by a victory.

The more recent numbers are even more striking.

Since the start of the 2015 season, Kirtland is 8-0 in the game following a loss.

Three of those losses came with another game remaining that same season, making them true week-to-week bounce-back situations.

Kirtland won all three.

After the 30-21 loss to Grand Valley in 2015, Kirtland returned one week later and shut out Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 30-0.

After a 21-0 loss to Cuyahoga Heights in 2016, the Hornets responded with a 35-6 victory over Hawken.

And there is an especially relevant example from just three years ago.

Perry defeated Kirtland, 24-6, on Sept. 1, 2023.

Kirtland’s response?

A 56-0 win over Trinity the following week.

In those three same-season games immediately following a loss since 2015, Kirtland is 3-0 and has outscored its opponents 121-6.

Rootstown now gets the next opportunity to break that pattern.

Rootstown has shown plenty of fight

Rootstown’s 2-1 record has included three very different games.

The Rovers opened the season at Southeast and found themselves trailing 13-0 at halftime.

They rallied.

An interception by helped turn the momentum before quarterback scored on a sneak and added the extra point. Rootstown completed the comeback in the fourth quarter when Mullaly and helped move the Rovers into scoring position and ran for a 15-yard touchdown.

Rootstown’s defense then forced a turnover on downs in the final minute to preserve a 14-13 victory.

One week later, the Rovers experienced the opposite side of a comeback.

Rootstown jumped to a 14-0 lead at Independence behind McEwuen, who returned an interception for a touchdown and caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Mullaly.

Independence responded with 31 unanswered points to win, 31-14.

Rootstown bounced back in Week 3 by shutting out Trinity, 35-0.

That means the Rovers have allowed only 13 total points in their two victories.

Through three games, Rootstown has scored 63 points and allowed 44. Kirtland has scored 97 and allowed 71.

McEwuen has already demonstrated the ability to affect games in multiple ways, while Mullaly has been at the center of Rootstown’s offense.

Those two could be particularly important against a Kirtland defense looking to respond after Perry generated 271 yards and scored three second-half touchdowns last week.

Turnovers could loom large

Rootstown’s first two games also provided evidence that turnovers can dramatically change the Rovers’ fortunes.

Rantilla’s interception helped spark the comeback at Southeast.

McEwuen’s interception return for a touchdown helped Rootstown build its 14-0 lead at Independence.

But an Independence interception helped the Blue Devils turn the momentum back in their direction during their comeback.

Kirtland experienced the same problem at Perry.

The Hornets lost a fumble and threw an interception, with Perry returning the interception 58 yards for a touchdown as the Pirates pulled away in the second half.

For a Kirtland team that historically thrives on controlling possession, field position and the line of scrimmage, avoiding those momentum-changing mistakes will be a priority Friday.

Kirtland owns the series

The historical series has been one-sided, although there have been only three recorded meetings.

Kirtland is 3-0 against Rootstown and has outscored the Rovers 121-14.

The first recorded meeting came in the 2017 regional final, when Kirtland defeated Rootstown, 17-7.

The programs did not meet again until the opening round of the 2024 playoffs, when Kirtland won, 62-0.

They met during the regular season at Rootstown last year, with Kirtland winning, 42-7.

Friday marks the fourth recorded meeting and Kirtland’s second consecutive trip to Rootstown.

Same records, very different predictive outlook

The standings make Friday’s matchup look nearly even.

Both teams are 2-1.

The computer projections do not.

Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50’s Week 3 predictive rankings have Kirtland rated No. 1 in Division VI, Region 21 and No. 47 among all 700 OHSAA teams.

Rootstown is No. 17 in Region 21 and No. 529 statewide.

That is a 482-position difference in the statewide predictive rankings despite identical records.

Kirtland is even rated ahead of undefeated South Range, which sits second in Region 21 and No. 60 statewide.

The current Harbin standings tell a somewhat different story because those rankings are based on results and computer points rather than predictive strength.

South Range leads Region 21 with a 6.5152 average.

Kirtland is 10th at 3.8333, currently inside the top-12 playoff cutoff, while Rootstown is 17th at 3.1667.

With both teams competing in the same playoff region, Friday’s result also has potential computer-point implications as the season progresses.

Valley Division race begins

The matchup also serves as the Valley Division opener for both teams.

Every team in the division enters Week 4 at 0-0 in conference play.

Conneaut owns the division’s best overall record at 3-0. Kirtland, Rootstown and Chagrin Falls are each 2-1, Berkshire is 1-2, and Crestwood and Fairview are 0-3.

That makes Friday an immediate opportunity for either Kirtland or Rootstown to gain an early advantage in the league race.

For Rootstown, it begins a challenging two-game stretch. The Rovers host Kirtland before traveling to Chagrin Falls next week.

Something about Sept. 11

There is symmetry in the date as well.

In the recorded history, Kirtland and Rootstown are each 4-3 in games played on Sept. 11.

Kirtland has won its last four games played on the date.

The Hornets beat Fairport, 74-0, in 1998; Harvey, 28-6, in 2009; VASJ, 30-0, in 2015; and Cardinal, 55-0, in 2020.

Three of those four victories were shutouts.

That 2015 victory over VASJ is especially relevant: it came exactly one week after the Grand Valley loss that preceded Kirtland’s 54-game road winning streak.

Eleven years later, the Hornets return to Sept. 11 looking to start over again.

What to watch

Rootstown has already proven it can overcome adversity. The Rovers erased a 13-point halftime deficit at Southeast, recovered from their Independence loss with a shutout, and have playmakers capable of generating points on offense and defense.

Kirtland, however, brings nearly two decades of evidence showing how rarely one loss turns into two.

The Hornets’ 54-game road streak is over.

Their streak without consecutive losses is not.

Friday night will determine whether Rootstown can end another remarkable piece of Kirtland history — or whether the Hornets begin building the next one.

Game Information

Game: Kirtland (2-1) at Rootstown (2-1)
Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026
Time: 7 p.m.
Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference, Valley Division
Division records: Kirtland 0-0, Rootstown 0-0
Series: Kirtland leads, 3-0

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FACEBOOKPRINT GAME NOTES
Individual Game

Box Score

FINALKirtland 50 • Rootstown 7

Kirtland Game Stats

Passing
# Player CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD INT
3Ben Loncar3560.0%268.720
Rushing
# Player ATT YDS AVG TD
3Ben Loncar27537.50
1Zander Perko36421.30
30Tommy Caimi24824.02
27Matt Rus7446.31
5Sebastian Becker22412.00
8Brayden Yates3186.00
33Bryson Rader351.70
24James O'Hara2-1-0.50
Receiving
# Player REC YDS AVG TD
6Mario Lorber22010.02
21Jacob Brandal166.00
Total Yards
# Player RUSH PASS REC
3Ben Loncar75260
1Zander Perko6400
30Tommy Caimi4800
27Matt Rus4400
5Sebastian Becker2400
6Mario Lorber0020
8Brayden Yates1800
21Jacob Brandal006
33Bryson Rader500
Sacks
# Player SACK TACK
62Lucci Cantini2.00.0
66Jack Turk1.00.0

Rootstown Game Stats

Passing
# Player CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD INT
1Blake Mullaly3560.0%8026.700
Rushing
# Player ATT YDS AVG TD
2Grayson Rantilla740.60
14Ayden Moyer520.40
0Kiel Reuting210.50
22Maxwell McEwuen1-1-1.00
8Tyler West1-1-1.00
1Blake Mullaly15-2-0.11
11Jackson Deangelis1-3-3.00
Receiving
# Player REC YDS AVG TD
22Maxwell McEwuen15454.00
0Kiel Reuting12121.00
2Grayson Rantilla155.00
Total Yards
# Player RUSH PASS REC
1Blake Mullaly-2800
22Maxwell McEwuen-1054
0Kiel Reuting1021
2Grayson Rantilla405
14Ayden Moyer200
Ohio Varsity Matchup Predictor™
Win Probability
Powered by the OV Sports Engine
High data confidence
Kirtland75%
Rootstown25%
Current season: KirtlandRecent head-to-head: KirtlandAll-time series: KirtlandProgram strength: Kirtland
Projected Score
Kirtland
27
–
Rootstown
21
OV Power Rating15.3 / 12.6Kirtland / Rootstown
Momentum MeterHot / HotLast 3: 3-0 / 2-1
Strength of Schedule46 / 38Average / Light
Game Quality Index34/100Standard matchup

Why the Predictor Favors Kirtland

Kirtland carries a 75% modeled win probability because Current season favors Kirtland; Recent head-to-head favors Kirtland; All-time series favors Kirtland. The model refreshes as new results are entered.

Current seasonKirtland
Recent head-to-headKirtland
All-time seriesKirtland
Program strengthKirtland
Home fieldRootstown

The Ohio Varsity Matchup Predictor™ uses the previous three seasons as an early program-strength baseline, then shifts weight toward current-season record and PF/PA as results accumulate. Recent head-to-head results, strength of schedule, momentum and the longer recorded series provide additional context. An unfollowed team's missing data remains neutral instead of erasing known information about its opponent. Home field receives a small adjustment. Predicted score and win probability are editorial estimates, not betting lines.

Since 1972

Historical Notes

Automatically generated from recorded football history • See an inaccuracy? Please report it.

Kirtland Win

  • Kirtland has now won its 4th straight against Rootstown.
  • Kirtland is now 172-1 when scoring 41+ points since 1972.
  • It is Kirtland's first game with 50+ points since Aug. 22, 2026.
  • 43 points is Kirtland's largest winning margin since Aug. 22, 2026.
  • This is Kirtland's first game allowing 7 or fewer points since Aug. 22, 2026.

Other Statistical Notes

  • This is the 4th recorded meeting between Kirtland and Rootstown since 1972.
  • Series: Kirtland is 4-0 against Rootstown since 1972; average score 42.8-5.3.
  • Kirtland's largest recorded win in the series: Nov. 1, 2024 • 62-0.
  • Highest-scoring meeting: Nov. 1, 2024 • 62-0.
  • Series shutouts since 1972: Kirtland 1, Rootstown 0.

Program Milestones

  • Kirtland has recorded 132 shutouts since 1972; the most recent was Oct. 17, 2025.
  • Kirtland has scored 40+ points 178 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 11, 2026).
  • The program has reached 50+ points 68 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 11, 2026).
  • Rootstown has recorded 79 shutouts since 1972; the most recent was Sep. 4, 2026.
  • Rootstown has scored 40+ points 55 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 19, 2025).
  • The program has reached 50+ points 13 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 23, 2022).

Record by Points Scored

Program record in games falling within each scoring range.

Kirtland scoring history
0-1022-113-5140 games
11-2073-42-1116 games
21-3081-20101 games
31-4094-094 games
41+172-1173 games
Rootstown scoring history
0-1019-184-1204 games
11-2057-87-2146 games
21-3077-23100 games
31-4049-251 games
41+53-154 games
Explore Kirtland Football Almanac →Explore Rootstown Football Almanac →

Kirtland Results vs. Rootstown

DateLocationScore
Sep. 11, 2026RootstownKirtland W 50-7
Oct. 24, 2025—Kirtland W 42-7
Nov. 1, 2024—Kirtland W 62-0
Nov. 17, 2017Stewart FieldKirtland W 17-7

Historical Data: Series records shown here cover 1972 through the latest imported season. Earlier meetings may not be included.

Season Leaders

Top Performers

Kirtland

Rootstown

Kirtland Series Record4-04 recorded meetings vs. Rootstown
Kirtland Win Percentage1.000recorded series vs. Rootstown

Kirtland — Last 5 vs. Rootstown

Sep. 11, 2026Rootstown
Kirtland W 50-7
Oct. 24, 2025Location not recorded
Kirtland W 42-7
Nov. 1, 2024Location not recorded
Kirtland W 62-0
Nov. 17, 2017Stewart Field
Kirtland W 17-7

Kirtland vs. Rootstown Series Notes

Latest meeting: Sep. 11, 2026 • Kirtland W 50-7

First recorded meeting: Nov. 17, 2017

Kirtland longest winning streak: W 4

Rootstown longest winning streak: —

Largest Kirtland win: Nov. 1, 2024 • 62-0

Highest-scoring game: Nov. 1, 2024 • 62-0

Closest game: Nov. 17, 2017 • 17-7

Average score: Kirtland 42.8 • Rootstown 5.3

Season Totals

Team Stats

Stat CategoryKirtlandRootstown
Passing
Yards63752
Comp-Att36-625-9
Comp %58.1%55.6%
Yards/Att10.35.8
TD / INT8 / 10 / 0
Rushing
Yards3175210
Attempts36932
Yards/Carry8.66.6
Touchdowns282
Receiving
Yards63516
Receptions455
Yards/Catch14.13.2
Touchdowns5100
Defense
Tackles00
Sacks30
Interceptions80
Scoring
Points4180
Season Statbooks

Player Stats

Kirtland Stats (2026-2027)

Passing
# Player CMP ATT PCT YDS Y/G TD INT LONG QB RTG
6Mario Lorber132259.1%31578.84100.0
13Griffin Gabriel112055.0%18011.51000.0
3Ben Loncar111861.1%13433.53000.0
6Noah Fardo1250.0%88.000060.4
Rushing
# Player ATT YDS AVG Y/G LONG TD
30Tommy Caimi1031,1628.197.5618
1Zander Perko826113.733.000
5Sebastian Becker405016.626.302
27Matt Rus1725317.535.000
3Ben Loncar221728.142.322
8Brayden Yates261504.69.301
6Mario Lorber18965.324.002
6Noah Fardo45513.855.000
33Bryson Rader11541.01.001
16Rylan Martinez5363.03.000
26Carter Luzar3217.05.300
13Griffin Gabriel1620-2.0-1.502
23Max Samac3173.00.800
14Tad Hilstrom2108.02.000
22Evan Lallo571.40.000
24Matt Schweinfurth275.05.000
24James O'Hara46-1.0-0.300
17Holden Martinez6-3-10.0-10.000
Receiving
# Player REC YDS AVG Y/G LONG TD
30Tommy Caimi1431422.49.502
36Carson Kalous714721.09.800
6Mario Lorber5408.010.032
16Rylan Martinez14040.010.010
1Zander Perko23517.53.001
5Sebastian Becker11515.03.800
23Max Samac11111.02.800
18Casey Lester188.00.000
25Jackson Cramp188.00.000
21Jacob Brandal166.01.500
45Marko Valentic661.01.500
20Landon Oppenheim155.01.300
All-Purpose Yards
# Player RUSH REC KR PR IR TOTAL Y/G
30Tommy Caimi1,1623141022901,607401.8
1Zander Perko61135000646646.0
5Sebastian Becker50115000516129.0
27Matt Rus25307300326326.0
8Brayden Yates1500340018446.0
3Ben Loncar172000017243.0
36Carson Kalous014700014736.8
6Mario Lorber964000013634.0
16Rylan Martinez36400007676.0
6Noah Fardo5500005555.0
33Bryson Rader5400005413.5
23Max Samac1711000287.0
26Carter Luzar210000215.3
13Griffin Gabriel200000205.0
14Tad Hilstrom100000102.5
18Casey Lester0800080.0
25Jackson Cramp0800080.0
22Evan Lallo7000070.0
24Matt Schweinfurth7000077.0
21Jacob Brandal0600061.5
24James O'Hara6000061.5
45Marko Valentic0600061.5
20Landon Oppenheim0500051.3
17Holden Martinez-30000-3-3.0
Total Yards
# Player RUSH PASS REC TOTAL Y/G
30Tommy Caimi1,16203141,476369.0
1Zander Perko61103564633.0
5Sebastian Becker501015516129.0
6Mario Lorber9631540451112.8
3Ben Loncar172134030676.5
27Matt Rus2530025335.0
13Griffin Gabriel20180020050.0
8Brayden Yates1500015037.5
36Carson Kalous0014714736.8
16Rylan Martinez36040763.0
6Noah Fardo55806363.0
33Bryson Rader54005413.5
23Max Samac17011287.0
26Carter Luzar2100215.3
14Tad Hilstrom1000102.5
18Casey Lester00880.0
25Jackson Cramp00880.0
22Evan Lallo70070.0
24Matt Schweinfurth70075.0
21Jacob Brandal00661.5
24James O'Hara60061.5
45Marko Valentic00661.5
20Landon Oppenheim00551.3
17Holden Martinez-300-10-10.0
Scoring
# Player TD 2-PT PTS KICK PTS PTS PPG
30Tommy Caimi150014837.0
1Zander Perko6006868.0
45Marko Valentic60646416.0
6Mario Lorber5014210.5
5Sebastian Becker200246.0
3Ben Loncar300184.5
27Matt Rus3001818.0
44Brandon Oppenheim00060.0
8Brayden Yates10061.5
33Bryson Rader10061.5
36Carson Kalous00061.5
13Griffin Gabriel00061.5
16Rylan Martinez10066.0
Sacks
# Player SACK YDL HUR TACK TFL
62Lucci Cantini2.00.00.00.00.0
66Jack Turk1.00.00.00.00.0
Interceptions
# Player INT YDS AVG LONG TD
30Tommy Caimi300.000
6Mario Lorber200.000
36Carson Kalous100.000
21Jacob Brandal100.000
55Jordan Force100.000
Kicking
# Player FGM FGA FG% LONG XPM XPA XP% PTS
45Marko Valentic5223.0%04941,225.0%64
21Jacob Brandal000.0%0000.0%1
6Mario Lorber000.0%0000.0%1
Kickoff Returns
# Player RET YDS AVG Y/G TD LONG
30Tommy Caimi410225.525.500
27Matt Rus27336.573.000
8Brayden Yates13434.08.500
Punt Returns
# Player RET YDS AVG Y/G TD LONG
30Tommy Caimi12929.07.320

Rootstown Stats (2026-2027)

Passing
# Player CMP ATT PCT YDS Y/G TD INT LONG QB RTG
1Blake Mullaly4757.1%5252.000080.7
Rushing
# Player ATT YDS AVG Y/G LONG TD
1Blake Mullaly10636.363.001
22Maxwell McEwuen6508.350.000
18Carson Saltsman5306.012.000
8Tyler West2168.016.000
14Ayden Moyer2157.515.001
26Andrew Lingo2147.011.000
0Kiel Reuting11313.013.000
2Grayson Rantilla263.06.000
7Doug Nichols133.03.000
Receiving
# Player REC YDS AVG Y/G LONG TD
22Maxwell McEwuen22110.521.000
0Kiel Reuting188.08.000
All-Purpose Yards
# Player RUSH REC KR PR IR TOTAL Y/G
22Maxwell McEwuen50210007171.0
1Blake Mullaly6300006363.0
18Carson Saltsman300000306.0
0Kiel Reuting1380002121.0
8Tyler West1600001616.0
14Ayden Moyer1500001515.0
26Andrew Lingo1400001414.0
2Grayson Rantilla6000066.0
7Doug Nichols3000033.0
Total Yards
# Player RUSH PASS REC TOTAL Y/G
1Blake Mullaly63520115115.0
22Maxwell McEwuen500217171.0
18Carson Saltsman3000306.0
0Kiel Reuting13082121.0
8Tyler West16001616.0
14Ayden Moyer15001515.0
26Andrew Lingo14001414.0
2Grayson Rantilla60066.0
7Doug Nichols30033.0
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