by Chesterland, OH – Tommy Gogolin and the Kirtland defense picked up where they left off in last week’s game, running the ball up and down the field all night while playing stingy, tough and high motor defense.
Senior running back Tommy Gogolin ran for 136 yards and was responsible for 2 touchdowns, a well-coached and seasoned defense didn’t miss a beat, and the second ranked division VI team in the state of Ohio looked very much like the Kirtland Hornets team their fans are familiar with after a 42-0 rout of West Geauga on Friday night.
KEY PLAYERS
Kirtland freshman quarterback Jake LaVerde completed 4-of-8 passes with two touchdowns and compiled a total of 84 yards through the air while running for 18 more on the ground.
Kirtland senior running back Tommy Gogolin ran for 136 yards on 11 carries, while finding the endzone on the ground and through the air.
Junior running back Rocco Alfieri of Kirtland was a scoring machine tonight, find the endzone not once, not twice, but three times on the ground compiling 35 rushing yards in the process.
FIRST HALF
On the very first play from scrimmage, West G would cough up the ball after Freshman quarterback Finn Keenan connected with junior receiver Andrew Marino.
With Kirtland in possession and in great field position, the Hornets found their groove early and often. On the second play of their inaugural drive, Senior running back Rocco Alfieri found room to run, and ultimately punched it in from five yards out after a great push from the offensive line.
West Geauga had little to no answer for the stout Kirtland defense in the 1st quarter. Going three and out on their next two possessions, the Wolverines had minimal momentum on their side. However, after a slow start, the West G offense eventually found their footing later in the half.
That was after the Hornets dominated the first quarter though. On the team’s next series, Rocco Alfieri came up big once more! This time finding the endzone on a 13-yard scamper, as he took the toss sweep right side and into the endzone again.
To end the first and begin the second quarter, a West G drive that consisted of two very nice throws by freshman quarterback Finn Keenan to junior receiver Andrew Marino would ultimately stall out.
Netting almost 20 yards on both plays, the Wolverines were shut down by the Hornet’s defense and forced to punt just 3 plays later.
After Kirtland regained possession, the offense was back on the move once more. Jake LaVerde would find Tommy Gogolin out of the backfield. Gogolin would evade Wolverine defenders as he was quick to take LaVerde’s pass 19 yards to the house for his first score off the night.
The pitch and catch play are what ultimately put Kirtland up 21-0 midway through the second quarter, as the Hornets remained in the driver’s seat.
After a West G three and out, the Wolverines defense would step up big. On what seemed to be an on the money pass from Jake LaVerde, defensive end Carson Weisman made a tremendous play intercepting the ball and taking the ball right out of the hands of Kirtland and putting it back into their own.
West Geauga freshman quarterback Finn Keenan would show some flashes on the teams next drive as he stood in the pocket composed and kept his eyes down field finding junior receiver Andrew Marino for a 14-yard, 3-yard and 5-yard completion.
While throwing the ball into some nice windows, Keenan also showed his ability to move around in the pocket and scramble for positive yardage. Running for 4-yards, 7-yards and moving the chains for the Wolverines. Although that drive would stall out for West G, the very young offense showed promise.
With time running out in the half, Kirtland was back in business as LaVerde hit junior receiver Gino Blasini with the pass and Blasini would go on to take it to the house from 52-yards out showing his pronounced speed and just simply outrunning the defense.
At the half Kirtland led 28-0 and was in line to receive the second half kick.
SECOND HALF
Kirtland went three and out to begin the second half, but it wasn’t long before they had the ball back. After a Will Sayle interception, the Hornets were again faced with a short field with possession.
Rocco Alfieri would cap off a short Kirtland drive with a 5-yard touchdown putting the Hornets up 35-0 and giving himself his third touchdown of the contest.
On the very next series for West Geauga, Andrew Marino came up with the highlight of the night as he corralled a Finn Keenan pass that bounced off of the hands of a Kirtland defender. Marino somehow came down with it as he was falling to the turf.
The Wolverine’s leading receiver Marino had a nice night catching all 7 of his targets and compiling a total of 40 yards. The Keenan to Marino connection should be something to watch for the rest of the season and into next year as the two seem to have a nice connection and good chemistry through just 4 games this year.
With time running out in the third, Kirtland was again in possession as Tommy Gogolin capped of his already impressive night with a 71-yard touchdown run up the middle. Gogolin has his offensive line to thank for that one as the Kirtland offensive front paved the way for the big gain creating a huge whole up the middle for the senior running back.
The fourth quarter featured a lot of the younger guys getting some valuable playing time under the Friday night lights.
With Kirtland ultimately running out the clock in the end, the Hornets would go on to win big; by a score of 42-0 and improving to 4-0. Functioning on all cylinders, the Hornets looked as good as they have all season long.
THE TAKEWAY
Kirtland continues to impress week in and week out. Tiger LaVerde has done a terrific job with his program as he continues to get the job done one Friday at a time. The rushing attack was phenomenal, the d-line put a ton of pressure on freshman quarter Finn Keenan, and the secondary flew to ball every single play. Notching their fourth win in as many tries on the campaign, this Kirtland team has to be excited with what they have on both sides of the ball.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Kirtland senior running back: Tommy Gogolin
11 rushes, 136 yards, 1 rushing TD
1 reception, 19 yards, 1 receiving TD
HISTORIC RUN
After tonight’s victory, Kirtland extended their regular season winning streak to an incredible 50 games. A streak that spans almost six years, starting back in October of 2016.
UP NEXT
Kirtland Hornets: Geneva comes to town for a pivotal CVC game, next Friday at 7pm.
West Geauga Wolverines: Back home against Edgewood next Friday at 7pm for their second CVC game.
