The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Who’s in lead for NFL awards this season?
Kirtland advances to ninth state final in past 10 years
On Super Bowl Eve, The Associated press presents individual awards for the season. Who are leaders?
Deep into the third quarter of the Division V state semifinal between Kirtland and Tontogany Otsego on Nov. 14 at Byers Field in Parma, fans of the Hornets watched uneasily as the twotime defending champions clung to a tenuous 15-13 lead.
For Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde, it was just a matter of being patient.
LaVerde’s patience was rewarded in a big way when senior running back Mason Sullivan, as he has so often in his Kirtland career, provided the big play Kirtland fans had been waiting for.
Taking a handoff on first down at the Hornets’ 29, Sullivan shook off one Knights tackler, then another, then burst into the clear and sprinted 71 yards into the end zone to give Kirtland breathing room at 22-13.
THE SCORE KIRTLAND 39, OTSEGO 13
That run proved to be the backbreaker, as the Hornets took control and never looked back on their way to a 39-13 victory, setting up a rematch with Ironton for the Division V state championship on Nov. 21 at Fortress Obetz.
The victory achieved each of the following milestones: 40 straight wins
overall, a 10-0 record in state semifinals, a fourth straight state final appearance, and a ninth state final appearance in 10 years.
Senior Anthony DeMarco racked up 233 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, and Sullivan finished with 180 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Kirtland (10-0) had 498 yards of offense, 442 on the ground.
“They put everybody in the box and they blitzed, and they blitzed every play,” LaVerde said. “You’ve
just got to be patient, and you’ll get a big play. Mason hit one, then DeMarco hit one, and that was kind of the difference.”
After Sullivan’s breakthrough score, Kirtland scored on its next three possessions. Mario Rodin kicked a 31-yard field goal, then DeMarco made a nice cutback and went 80 yards up the home sideline for a touchdown, following the downfield blocking of senior WR/S Joey Grazia.
“It was great, I really
didn’t do much,” DeMarco said of the play. “Joey just kind of led the way and I just followed him.”
Ramon Lescano added a late 44-yard TD run for the final margin.
Otsego (10-1), gave the Hornets a run for their money in the first half. After Sullivan’s 4-yard run and 2-point conversion gave Kirtland a 8-0 lead on the opening drive, Otsego responded with an impressive 16-play, 70-yard drive to score on a 2-yard run by
Michael Hernandez, who was filling in for injured starter Trent Leiter.
Six-foot-6 junior Joseph Dzierwa, son of Otsego coach Matt Dzierwa, completed 6 passes on the drive, and the Knights converted a fourth down and three third downs along the way.
Kirtland was forced to punt on its next possession, but senior Danny Davidson picked off a Dzierwa pass at the Otsego 24. DeMarco ran for a touchdown on the next play for a 15-7 Kirtland lead.