The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Powers brothers wrap up impressive run as Kirtland QBs
There are two undefeated quarterbacks in Kirtland football history, and they live under the same roof.
The next time Liam Powers and his older brother, Tommy, lose a football game, it will be on an intramural field at Ohio University.
With Kirtland’s 38-0 white-washing of Ironton in the Division V state championship game on Nov. 21, Liam Powers wrapped up his varsity career with a spotless 26-0 record as the Hornets’ quarterback.
Couple that with the 15-0 record big brother Tommy Powers had as Kirtland’s starting quarterback in the 2018 state championship season, and the Powers boys are 41-0 over the last three years.
It’s a record that coincides with Kirtland’s current 41-game winning streak and three straight undefeated state-championship seasons.
“It’s really cool,” said Liam. “But of us going undefeated in our varsity careers is awesome — 3-0 in state championship games, too.”
Tommy, who attends Ohio University already (and who will be joined there next year by his
younger brother) agreed.
But he showered more praise on Liam than himself.
“I’m really proud of him and the work he put in,” Tommy said. “It comes down to all the team and
the work everyone does.”
In the recently concluded season, Liam completed 54 of 80 passes (68 percent) for
940 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw only two interceptions.
As a junior, he was 38of-63 passing for 835 yards and nine TDs, with one reception for 7 yards (in the state title game), while also running 64 times for 252 yards and three TDs.
In his lone year as starting quarterback, Tommy was 55-for-80 passing for 1,040 yards and 13 TDs. He also ran for 329 yards and seven scores.
That the Powers boys have had the success they’ve had shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. Their grandfather, Bernard Powers, who hailed from Dormont High in Pennsylvania, was the backup quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish behind All-American signal-caller Johnny Lujak in the 1940s.
Bernard Powers’ career came to an premature end, though, because of a back injury.
Decades later, the Powers boys rose to prominence at Kirtland with their late grandfather watching from above.
“I would never have believed this,” Liam said of the success he’s had. “My grandpa played in college and I just wanted to do what he did.”
Liam was a tight end and linebacker when he started playing youth football in second grade. He moved to safety a year later.