NORTH ROBINSON – We’re into uncharted territory.
Colonel Crawford won its first regional title in program history and is now preparing for a state semifinal clash with the most decorated Division VI team in Ohio this millennia.
Let’s break down the matchup.
Most Intriguing Game
Division VI State Semifinal — #5 Colonel Crawford (13-1) vs. #1 Kirtland (13-0) at Byers Field at Parma’s Robert Boulton Stadium
Marion Local saw it’s 76-game win streak come to an end last weekend in Division VII, and everyone knows how storied that program is — Kirtland’s run might be just as impressive.
Tiger LaVerde took over the program in 2006 after it had just one winning season since 2000. Since then, he has transformed the Hornets into one of the premier small school football programs in the country. They made the playoffs each of his first three years, missed out in 2009 despite a 7-3 record, and haven’t missed it again since.
From 2011 to now Kirtland has won seven state championships with six state runner-up finishes — yes, that’s 13 state title game appearances in 14 years. The only year the Hornets didn’t win a regional title was in 2016 losing to a Cuyahoga Heights team, for the second time that season, that went on to lose to Marion Local in the championship. Coach LaVerde is 257-21 at the helm of the program with six of those 21 losses coming in the state championship game. He’s 13-0 all-time in state semifinals, and he’s 113-4 since 2018 — the Hornets were one of just four schools in the nation with 70+ wins and four losses or fewer since 2020 entering the season.
His son Jake is the first player in program history to pass for 3,000-plus yards and rush for 3,000-plus yards in a career. On the season he has 637 yards passing with five touchdowns and three interceptions, and has rushed 103 times for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns — and he’s just the third option in the run game. His senior classmates John Silvestro and Ty Bledsoe make up one heck of a 1-2 punch with Silvestro logged 197 carries for 1,859 yards and 29 touchdowns, Bledsoe has 138 rushes for 1,180 yards and 15 touchdowns. And if the younger LaVerde decides to air it out, the Caimi brothers have been his favorite targets; Ryan has 31 receptions for 538 yards and six touchdowns, Tommy eight catches for 303 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively they’re just as impressive allowing just 1,950 yards on the season, that’s a mere 150 to opposing offenses each week, and only 90 points including four shutouts. Nobody has scored more than a touchdown on the Hornets this postseason, and 45 of the 90 points allowed came in Week 3 against Division IV rival Perry (44-24) and Week 4 against Division V Fairview (45-21).
Colonel Crawford is going to have its hands full with the Hornets, but the Eagles have been the underdog the last three weeks and never let that faze them. Mount Gilead and Centerburg statistically outmatched the Eagles and they proceeded to beat them a combined 84-21. And last week against West Jefferson’s explosive aerial attack, Colonel Crawford allowed fewer than 150 yards passing and won by four touchdowns.
Players to Watch
Is it a cop out to say the entire team? Because in order to beat someone like Kirtland, it will require a total team effort.
Running back Connor McMichael (187 carries, 1,565 yards, 23 TD) has been amazing all season long and there’s no signs that’ll stop this week. He helps dictate game flow and allows quarterbacks Brayden Holt (75/96, 1,344 yards, 16 TD) and Peyton Baker (55/90, 1,175 yards, 9 TD; 44 rushes, 515 yards, 4 TD) to manage the game accordingly. Parker Weithman (56 catches, 1,197 yards, 12 TD) has been one of the best wideouts to ever come through the program, and tight end John DeGray (23 catches, 424 yards, 4 TD) is a matchup nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs.
Defensive end Payne DeGray (68 tackles, 34 for loss, 13.5 sacks, 2 FF) has been double and triple teamed the last three years and it’s almost a certainty he will be again on Friday. But that just allows guys like Luke Christman (44 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 9 sacks), Kayden Carpenter (34 tackles, 6.5 for loss), Gabe Stratton (88 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks), Tyce Lisle (51 tackles, 9 for loss), Walker Cramer (50 tackles, 6 for loss, 3 FR), Dom Dean (51 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2 sacks), and McMichael (56 tackles, 4.5 for loss) favorable one-on-one matchups. And in the secondary, Carson Rader (50 tackles, 2 INT) was unbelievable against West Jefferson, as was Jacob Cochran (34 tackles), Weithman (32 tackles, 5 INT), and Roen Thew (51 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks).
Joseph Zizzo has been one of the most reliable kickers around making 61-of-64 extra points and both attempted field goals with a long of 38 yards. And if needed, Holt is a pretty darn good punter, too, averaging 32.7 yards per punt.
Predictions
Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50 has the Eagles as the fourth-biggest underdog in the state predicting them to lose by 17. The only games with wider margins are Liberty Center by 35 over Indian Lake in Division V, Bishop Watterson by 24 over Tippecanoe in Division III, and Shelby by 19 over Indian Hill in Division IV.
I do agree that Colonel Crawford is the underdog, anybody would be against a program like Kirtland. But the best stories revolve around underdogs, and everyone in North Robinson believes the Eagles have a chance to take down Goliath. The way the defense has been playing, the way the offense has been clicking and chugging along downfield each week, it’s hard not to believe…
Let’s just say I’m planning on being in Canton for most of the day on Saturday.
zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: What to know ahead of Colonel Crawford’s state semifinal in Week 15
Reporting by Zachary Holden, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum / Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
