VII
Kirtland, LaVerde claim another Ohio state title
Tiger LaVerde's Kirtland Hornets whipped Versailles, 32-15, on Dec. 1 to win the Ohio Class VI state championship.
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The top-seeded Hornets avenged a 20-16 defeat to the Tigers in last year final. It was the seventh state title for Kirtland and LaVerde, an Oil City High School graduate and former Franklin head coach.
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LaVerde is 229-20 at Kirtland since 2006 and is 249-30 including his three seasons at Franklin (2001-03).
Kirtland claimed its seventh straight regional crown this season and its 12th trip to the final four in the last 13 years.
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Kirtland is also one of nine schools in Ohio history with seven state crowns on the gridiron.
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The Hornets finished 15-1, and have 12 straight wins since losing to Perry in Week 3.
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LaVerde's son Jake is Kirtland's quarterback. He was the starter last year as a freshman and when his brother, Philip, made all-state as a senior. Jake made second team all-Ohio (Class VI) at QB this season.
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From the Kirtland Stat Crew: Under Tiger LaVerde and his staff, every KHS class has won at least 35 games, and each of the last 11 classes has won at least one state title and 50-plus games.
Class of 2010 ('06-'09): 35-10
Class of 2011 ('07-'10): 39-8
Class of 2012 ('08-'11): 46-5
Class of 2013 ('09-'12): 48-5
Class of 2014 (110-'13): 56-2
Class of 2015 ('11-'14): 58-2
Class of 2016 (112-'15): 57-3
Class of 2017 ('13-'16): 54-4
Class of 2018 ('14-'17): 53-5
Class of 2019 ('15-'18): 54-4
Class of 2020 ('16-'19): 55-3
Class of 2021 ('17-'20): 55-1
Class of 2022 ('18-'21): 55-1
Class of 2023 ('18-'21): 55-1
Class of 2024 ('20-'23): 55-3