Kirtland, Lake set matchup

The Battle of Route 306 is set.

Both Lake Catholic coach Marty Gibbons and Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde have confirmed that the Cougars and the Hornets will play each other in a football season opener on Aug. 28 at Mentor’s Jerome T. Osborne Stadium.

“It’s going to be a great game,” said LaVerde. “The schools are only a couple miles away from each other. We’ve played each other in ninth grade and JV, but this is the first time for the varsity to play each other since I’ve been here. It’s a great game for the kids. A big game, for sure.”

Gibbons agreed. He said LaVerde called on Aug. 14 and asked about the possibility of the two teams opening up against each other.

“I said, ‘sure.’ It was a simple as that,” Gibbons said. “It’s going to be an awesome game.”

Because of the novel coronavirus, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has called for a six-game regular season in football, rather than the customary 10-game slate. Additionally, all teams in Ohio are automatically qualified for the playoffs this season.

Both Kirtland and Lake Catholic have tentative schedules in place.

After playing Kirtland in the opener, Lake will play VASJ, NDCL, University, Walsh Jesuit and Padua to round out its regular season.

Following the lidlifter with the Cougars, the Hornets are slated to follow up with Crestwood, Cardinal, Grand Valley and Lakeside. There is still a hole in Kirtland’s schedule in perhaps Week 3.

“Marty is a great young coach, one of the best young coaches in the state,” LaVerde said of Gibbons. “He comes from a great family of coaches and has a great staff. This game will allow us to get on film and see what we can do to get better.”

Kirtland, which is coming in on a 30-game winning streak and back-toback state championships, poses a good litmus test for the Cougars, as well.

“Their records speak for themselves,” Gibbons said of the Hornets’ recent ledger of five state titles and three state runner-up finishes in the past decade. “Kirtland football and the tradition Tiger has built there, and the Lake Catholic football name and brand itself — it’s going to be a cool opportunity for the kids.”