MINERVA—Kirtland scored 34 unanswered points to down Galion Northmor in a Division VI state semifinal on Friday, 41-7.
The Hornets led 7-0 before Northmor tied the game, setting up Kirtland’s dominating run to an eighth consecutive state championship game appearance.
“It’s so much fun,” said Kirtland head coach Tiger LaVerde. “These kids worked hard, they executed and played great defense. They held a really good team to seven points, and I’m proud of the defensive effort.”
After forcing the Golden Knights to punt on the game’s opening possession, Kirtland marched into the red zone but fumbled the ball away.
The Hornet defense stood tall again and the offense once again marched to the end zone led by Jake LaVerde’s runs of 11 and 18 yards before his two-yard rushing touchdown and Xavier Lasecki’s extra point gave Kirtland a 7-0 advantage early in the second quarter.
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Northmor answered with a screen pass from A.J. Bower to Cowin Becker that went 57 yards to paydirt, tying it up at 7-7.
“We know (Northmor) likes to throw deep and screens,” Coach LaVerde said. “They caught us on a blitz, we didn’t make a tackle, and they put seven on the board.”
Danny Alfieri led the Hornets’ next drive with 29 yards between three carries, setting up LaVerde’s second score of the night on a 13-yard dash to the endzone, hurdling defenders before lowering his shoulder to break the plain.
Jack Lessick picked off a Bower pass, setting up Alfieri’s seven-yard touchdown rush. The extra point was blocked leaving Kirtland up 20-7 at halftime.
Alfieri opened the third quarter with a seven-yard touchdown run and he added a two-point conversion for a 28-7 lead with eight minutes left in the quarter.
Casey Carkhuff and Noah Runyan teamed up on a sack that helped the Hornets get the ball back and LaVerde made the Golden Knights pay as he scored his third touchdown of the night on a 20-yard scamper.
Jack Lessick closed out the Kirtland scoring with a 42-yard sprint and dive into the pylon for a 41-7 lead and a running clock that put the game out of reach.
The Hornets racked up 480 rushing yards on 60 carries in the win.
“When it’s cold, snowy, windy, it’s hard to throw the ball,” Coach LaVerde said. “(Northmor) had a tough time throwing it, and they throw it all over the field. Our kids did a nice job executing up front, blocking, and carrying out their fakes. All the backs did a nice job.”
Alfieri and LaVerde combined for 295 yards of offense and 30 of Kirtland’s 41 points.
“The offensive line was great,” Jake LaVerde said. “That’s why we dominate these teams in the cold because we just run the ball. It’s what works. Me, Danny, and Johnny (Silvestro) running the ball give us a nice 1-2-3 punch.”
Alfieri added: “The line blocked great tonight. They made our job easy.”
Sitting at 15-0, the job isn’t finished yet for the Hornets as they earned another trip to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and a potential eighth state championship next Saturday.
“It’s going to take a great week of focus,” Coach LaVerde said. “We really have to focus this week and have a good week of practice. The best thing is I get to spend one more week with these great kids.”
Silvestro rushed for 101 yards on 10 carries, and Lessick had 48 yards on two attempts with a touchdown.
Sebastian Becker and Lessick recorded interceptions, while Carkhuff and Cameron Treadwell recorded a sack each.
Kirtland will play Coldwater in the Division I state championship game on December 7 at 10:30 a.m.
