There aren’t many opportunities to ease into a season for the Kirtland Football team.
The defending Division VI state champion certainly won’t get one Saturday.
Kirtland begins its title defense on a neutral field at Ridgewood Generals Stadium against Cincinnati Taft, a Division IV program that has spent the past three seasons establishing itself as one of the state’s most consistent postseason contenders.
Between them, the Hornets and Senators have won 77 games over the past three seasons.
Kirtland is 45-2 during that stretch, with two state championships and three consecutive trips to the Division VI state championship game.
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Taft is 32-7, including a trip to the Division IV state semifinals in 2024.
It’s a matchup that looks more like something Ohio might see in November than on opening weekend in August.
For Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde, that’s part of the appeal.
“We’ve got our first three games: Cincinnati Taft, at Poland, and at Perry,” LaVerde said. “That’s a great opening stretch. For our kids.”
Two Programs Accustomed to Winning
Kirtland enters Saturday with about as much momentum as a high school football program can carry from one season to the next.
The Hornets went 15-0 in 2025, finishing the season by capturing the Division VI state championship.
That followed a 15-1 season in 2024 in which Kirtland reached the state championship game and a 15-1 state championship season in 2023.
Three years. Three state championship appearances. Two titles.
Taft’s recent résumé isn’t quite as decorated, but the Senators haven’t been far behind.
Taft went 11-1 in 2025, with its only defeat coming in a 25-16 loss to Indian Hill in a Division IV regional semifinal.
The Senators reached the Division IV state semifinals in 2024 and won nine games in 2023.
Now two programs accustomed to playing deep into November will find out immediately how their 2026 teams measure up.
For Kirtland, much of that question revolves around an unusual combination: enormous experience up front and almost none at the offensive skill positions.
Hornets Built From the Inside Out
If Kirtland’s new-look offense needs some time to settle in Saturday, it will have the luxury of doing so behind an offensive line loaded with experience.
Seven of Kirtland’s top eight linemen return.
Lucci Cantini returns at center as a four-year starter, while Jack Turk and Caden Fall give the Hornets two experienced tackles. Vince Prusock enters his third season as the starter at right guard, while Jackson Zahn returns at left guard after starting 13 games last season.
Jack Knoop and Hunter Palagyi add even more depth.
“We’ve got really good depth on the offensive line and defensive line,” LaVerde said. “We’ve got a couple good linebackers back and a couple guys back in the secondary, so we’ve got a good mix of what’s coming back.”
That experience will be especially valuable because the situation outside the box is completely different.
Kirtland graduated all six of its starting offensive skill players from last season’s championship team.
“All six skill guys graduated,” LaVerde said. “So that’s kind of where our focus has been through camp — just running the plays right, knowing your assignments, hanging on to the football and all the little things that are important in really, really close games.”
A New Cast Takes Over
Ben Loncar gets the first opportunity to lead the offense at quarterback.
Tommy Caimi steps in at tailback, while several Hornets have competed at fullback. LaVerde said Zander Perko is expected to get the start against Taft.
Landon Oppenheim is among a group of three tight ends Kirtland plans to rotate, while Mario Lorber takes over at split end.
There will be new names carrying and catching the football.
There won’t be new expectations.
LaVerde also isn’t pretending to know exactly what his new group will look like once the games begin.
“We’ll see,” he said. “The next three weeks — that’s what’s fun about it.”
And Kirtland won’t have to wait long for answers.
Taft comes first.
Then Poland.
Then Perry.
Three immediate tests for a group of new skill players trying to establish themselves while playing for a program where the standard has become competing for championships.
Defense Already Setting the Tone
While Kirtland rebuilds much of its offense, there are early indications that the Hornets’ defense is ready to carry its share of the load.
Kirtland went through a five-team scrimmage and a jamboree without allowing a point.
“They’ve had a good camp and a couple good scrimmages,” LaVerde said. “We’ve had a five-way scrimmage and then a jamboree, and they haven’t given up a point yet. So they’ve been doing a nice job.”
That’s encouraging for a team facing an opponent that has won 30 games over the past three seasons.
It’s also exactly what Kirtland may need early Saturday while its inexperienced offensive backfield settles into varsity football.
No Warmup Necessary
There are easier ways to open a football season.
Kirtland could have scheduled one.
So could Taft.
Instead, a Division VI program that has played in three straight state championship games will line up across from a Division IV program that has won 20 games over the past two seasons.
Neutral field.
Opening weekend.
Two teams that expect their seasons to extend well beyond the first 10 games.
For Kirtland, Saturday isn’t about protecting a championship résumé or slowly working new players into comfortable situations.
It’s about finding out immediately what the 2026 Hornets have.
LaVerde wouldn’t want it any other way.
“We’ll just throw them right into the fire,” he said. “It’s going to be great.”
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#4KIRTLAND HORNETS Football
2026-2027 Kirtland Hornets Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Series* | Result | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 22, 2026 Saturday | vs  Taft | 1-0 | W 51-6 | 7:00 PM | Ridgewood Generals Stadium Watch |
| Aug. 28, 2026 Friday | @  Poland | 1-0 | W 36-34 | 7:00 PM | Poland Watch |
| Sep. 4, 2026 Friday | 15-19 | L 10-31 | 7:00 PM | Alumni Stadium, Perry, Ohio Tickets Watch | |
| Sep. 11, 2026 Friday | 4-0 | W 50-7 | 7:00 PM | Rootstown | |
| Sep. 18, 2026 Friday | 1-0 | W 48-0 | 7:00 PM | Kirtland Watch | |
| Sep. 25, 2026 Friday | 13-9 | W 45-3 | 7:00 PM | Chagrin Falls Watch | |
| Oct. 2, 2026 Friday | 4-0 | W 32-0 | 7:00 PM | Crestwood Watch | |
| Oct. 9, 2026 Friday | 31-11-1 | W 59-0 | 7:00 PM | Kirtland Watch | |
| Oct. 16, 2026 Friday | 3-0 | W 40-0 | 7:00 PM | Kirtland Watch | |
| Oct. 23, 2026 Friday | 32-19-1 | W 49-7 | 7:00 PM | Kirtland Watch | |
| Nov. 6, 2026 Friday | vs  BrookfieldPOSTSEASON | 2-0 | W 50-0 | 7:00 PM | Kirtland Watch |
| Nov. 13, 2026 Friday | vs  HillsdalePOSTSEASON | 1-0 | GAME CENTER | 7:00 PM | Kirtland High School Watch |
Perry Pirates
Rootstown Rovers
Conneaut Spartans
Chagrin Falls Tigers
Crestwood Red Devils
Beachwood Bison
Fairview Warriors
Berkshire Badgers* Historical series data: Records shown are based on the OV Sports Engine historical football database beginning with the 1972 season. Earlier meetings may not be included.
