PARMA — Colonel Crawford ran into an overwhelming force at Friday night’s Division VI state semifinal game at Byers Field in Parma. The Eagles fell to perennial powerhouse Kirtland 49-22 in a Final Four shootout that ended the most successful season in C.C. history. Meanwhile, the seven-time state champion Hornets (14-0) are headed to the […]
Jake LaVerde
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Building a Dynasty: Marion Local, Kirtland offer roadmaps to success
CANTON — Maria Stein Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin sat in front of a gathering of statewide media members in the bowels of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, two players seated on either side of him. The Flyers had just won their 64th straight game and fourth consecutive state championship in resounding fashion, a […]
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No. 1-ranked Kirtland ends historic Northmor football season in state semifinal
MINERVA — It took one of Ohio’s most powerful small-school football factories to end Northmor’s historic 2024 football season. Top-ranked Kirtland dismissed the fifth-ranked Golden Knights 41-7 in Friday night’s frigid Division VI state semifinal at Minerva High School. That result proved to be the final chapter in an otherwise storybook season for coach Scott […]
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Defending state champ Kirtland cruises past Crestview
OLIVESBURG — Kirtland was as good as advertised. Its quarterback might be even better. Jake LaVerde, the Hornets’ junior quarterback, rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, averaging an incredible 40 yards a pop. He also threw a pair of touchdown passes as the defending Division VI state champion cruised to […]
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Kirtland stings Versailles for Division VI state title
CANTON — Kirtland left no doubt who was Ohio’s best Division VI football team this season. The No. 1-ranked Hornets dominated Versailles to the tune of a 32-15 victory on Friday morning in the state championship game before 3,959 fans at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. This marked the seventh state championship for […]