CVC TV heads out to Wickliffe for a showdown of unbeaten teams on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
The stage is set for one of the biggest small-school matchups in Ohio this season as unbeaten Kirtland travels to Wickliffe on Friday night. Both teams are 5-0, both have dominated early, and both know this game will define the rest of their regular seasons.
For Kirtland, the trip to Wickliffe Memorial Stadium offers a chance to extend one of the most remarkable streaks in Ohio football history. The Hornets have not lost a road game since 2015, a span of 50 straight wins, and they continue to operate as the model of consistency under head coach Tiger LaVerde. A victory would also mark LaVerde’s 250th at Kirtland, making him the fastest coach in state history to reach that milestone.
Kirtland’s formula is well known but nearly impossible to stop. The Hornets average over 42 points per game, fueled by a bruising ground attack that features senior quarterback Jake LaVerde, running back John Silvestro, and senior Ty Bledsoe. LaVerde has rushed for 606 yards and eight touchdowns, while Silvestro has piled up 608 yards and 11 scores. Bledsoe adds another 491 yards and eight touchdowns, giving Kirtland three backs capable of breaking a game open at any moment. The defense has been equally sharp, allowing just 59 points through five games while forcing turnovers and dominating the line of scrimmage.
Wickliffe enters unbeaten with plenty of momentum and confidence of its own. The Blue Devils have been outstanding defensively, recording four shutouts and giving up fewer than six points a game. Their most impressive performance came in a 21-7 win over Cuyahoga Heights, a test that showed they could handle a physical opponent. Wickliffe’s offense has been efficient, averaging nearly 35 points per game, and the team has found ways to win both blowouts and close contests, including a 24-22 nail-biter at Shaw. Elijah Fitch has run for 505 yards and five touchdowns this season, while Frankie Bucar has added 313 yards on the ground. Wickliffe has thrown for just 191 yards.
History leans heavily in Kirtland’s favor. The Hornets have won the last five meetings, most recently in 2019, while Wickliffe’s last victory came back in 1997 when current head coach Marce Porcello was the team’s quarterback. Still, the Blue Devils see this matchup as their best chance in decades to prove they belong among the region’s elite.
