Kirtland didn’t waste a single snap on Friday night—not with a state championship berth on the line, and not with history within reach.
Behind a relentless offense that scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions, and behind a star running back who stamped his name into the record book, the Hornets rolled to a 49–22 win over Colonel Crawford in a Division VI state semifinal at Byers Field in Parma.
And with that, Kirtland improved to 14–0 all-time in state semifinal games and punched its ticket to the state championship for the 14th time in 15 years.
It was fitting, then, that the story of the night belonged to senior running back John Silvestro, who became the first 2,000-yard rusher in school history and Kirtland’s single-season rushing leader. Needing just a few yards to pass Mason Rus’s 1,998-yard mark set in 2021, Silvestro surged past the milestone as part of a 229-yard, four-touchdown performance that powered a historic night.
“It was a special night for (John),” Kirtland head coach Tiger LaVerde said. “The offensive line, and the two tight ends did a terrific job up front.”
From the opening kickoff, the Hornets imposed their will.
Their first drive—79 yards capped by an eight-yard run from Ty Bledsoe—set the tone. Colonel Crawford missed a 28-yard field goal on its first series, and Kirtland immediately flipped the field with Silvestro’s first big sprint of the night. Moments later, Jake LaVerde pushed in from six yards out to make it 14–0.
Kirtland kept rolling. Bledsoe broke another long run to set up Silvestro’s first touchdown, a one-yard plunge. Another defensive stop on a failed fake punt gave the Hornets short field, and Silvestro cashed in again—this time on fourth-and-goal—to send Kirtland into halftime ahead 27–0.
“(Colonel Crawford) has a big offensive line, good running back and quarterback, and we knew it was going to be a test, and I was really impressed with our first half,” LaVerde said. “Offensively, our guys upfront were really special tonight.”
Colonel Crawford finally broke through with an 81-yard scoring drive to open the second half, but Kirtland answered the same way it had all night—with another touchdown march. Bledsoe and Silvestro each ripped off 17-yard runs before LaVerde scored from 16 yards out.
After the Eagles drew within 34-14, Silvestro delivered the knockout. On the first play of the next possession, he blasted through a crease for a 59-yard touchdown—the run that officially carried him past 2,000 yards.
“I could not set the record without the big guys up front,” Silvestro said. “They open holes big enough for a bus to drive through. After that, it’s just see green, hit green, and getting off to the races.”
Lucci Cantini, one of those linemen, smiled when asked about the moment.
“I want to hand the compliment back to him because if we miss a block, he breaks a tackle and it keeps us up,” Cantini said. “On his first big run, my guy hit him, and John got 30 yards after contact. He makes us look better up front and makes us get our heads out of our butts.”
After Mario Lorber’s sack on fourth down gave Kirtland the ball at the Colonel Crawford 16, Silvestro scored again—his fourth touchdown—to stretch the lead to 49–14.
Colonel Crawford added a late touchdown and converted a two-point play, then recovered an onside kick, but Kirtland’s defense delivered one last emphatic moment: a fourth-and-1 stop at the 1-yard line with 2:05 remaining.
Moments later, the Hornets walked off winners yet again on a state semifinal stage.
“It’s crazy to think this will be our 14th state championship game,” LaVerde said. “When I started coaching, I was hoping to coach in one of these games, but to be coaching in my 14th is just crazy. I’m very blessed. I have great kids who work really hard, and we have a community that really supports us. It’s special.”
Silvestro finished with 229 yards and four scores on 19 carries. Bledsoe added 155 yards and a touchdown on 15 attempts, and LaVerde rushed 10 times for 57 yards and two scores while completing one pass.
Kirtland (14–0) now turns its attention to Hopewell-Loudon, its opponent in Saturday’s Division VI state championship game at 3 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Cantini knows what’s next.
“We have to get a bit healthier and mentally stronger,” he said. “We broke down on defense a little bit at the end. We took our eyes off the prize, and we have to be stronger during practice this week mentally.”
