The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kirtland rolls to D-V crown
MASSILLON » Each digit on that Route 306 sign where Kirtland resides carried particularly poignant meaning Nov. 21 after the Division V state final against Ironton.
The three stands for the consecutive state titles the Hornets have now amassed.
The zero stands for the perfection along the way in 2020, as in an unbeaten run with a shutout to punctuate it.
And the six stands for the state championships that now reside in the heart of Lake County, as one of the standard bearers for smallschool football in Ohio.
Kirtland took firm control in the third quarter, getting a 17-yard touchdown run from Mason Sullivan, a 50-yard TD reception from Gage Sullivan and an eightyard scoring jaunt from Anthony DeMarco to blow open a 38-0 win Nov. 21 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
“I mean, it’s awesome,” said linebacker Mason Rus, who helped key a dominant defensive performance. “We prepared, and we’ve been working since last summer after (the 2019 state final, also against Ironton). We’ve
been ready to go.”
The Hornets are the 11th program all-time in Ohio to win six state titles on the gridiron.
Coach Tiger LaVerde couldn’t help but marvel at the totality of the defensive shutdown against a squad paced by Ohio State recruit and two-way stalwart Reid Carrico.
“Look at that,” LaVerde said, staring at the south scoreboard with final game statistics. “They had 13 passing yards?”
Indeed the Tigers did, along with 45 yards on the ground and three first downs.
It spoke volumes of the totality with which Kirtland operated.
“(Defensive coordinator) Ryan Beeler did a great job,” LaVerde said. “He had these guys ready. We had a great week of preparation, and what they did in the offseason gets them ready to