When you talk about small-town football in Ohio, there’s Kirtland, and then there’s everyone else. Honestly, if you aren't from Lake County, it’s hard to explain the machine that Tiger LaVerde has built. This isn't just a high school team; it's a perennial powerhouse that basically treats the regular season as a warm-up for December in Canton. People searching for the kirtland ohio football schedule usually want to know two things: who they’re crushing this Friday and when the playoff tickets go on sale.
They win. A lot.
The 2025 season just wrapped up, and if you followed the schedule, you saw a masterclass in dominant, "ground and pound" football. This year wasn't just about winning games; it was about redemption. After a tough loss to Coldwater in the 2024 state finals, the Hornets came back with a vengeance. They didn't just play a schedule; they steamrolled it.
The 2025 Kirtland Ohio Football Schedule and Results
If you look back at the 2025 slate, it was designed to test them early. Coach LaVerde doesn't believe in "cupcake" openers. He wants to see what his kids are made of before the Chagrin Valley Conference (CVC) play even starts.
- Aug 22: @ Central Clarion (PA) — W 30-7
- Aug 29: vs Crestview — W 42-7
- Sep 05: vs Perry — W 44-24
- Sep 12: @ Fairview — W 45-21
- Sep 19: vs Trinity — W 49-0
- Sep 26: @ Wickliffe — W 42-0
- Oct 03: vs Berkshire — W 38-7
- Oct 10: @ Chagrin Falls — W 45-0
- Oct 17: vs Crestwood — W 40-21
- Oct 24: @ Rootstown — W 42-7
That Week 3 game against Perry? That was the one everyone had circled. Perry is always tough, and for Kirtland to hang 44 points on them really signaled that this 2025 squad was different. It wasn't just about the defense; the offense was explosive.
That Weird Saturday in October
Most people look at a 15-0 season and assume it was all sunshine and rainbows. It wasn't. There was this specific Saturday morning—October 4th—that basically defined the season. The night before, Kirtland beat Berkshire 38-7. On paper, a great win. In reality? The Hornets played sloppy. They had 21 penalties for over 200 yards.
Tiger LaVerde doesn't do sloppy.
He called a Saturday morning practice that players are still probably talking about in the locker room. It was the "toughest practice yet," according to the coaching staff. It refocused the team. From that point on, the discipline was terrifying. They stopped beating themselves and started focusing on the details that win championships.
The Playoff Run to the 8th State Title
When the postseason hit, the kirtland ohio football schedule shifted into overdrive. The Hornets entered the Division VI, Region 21 bracket as the team to beat. And nobody could beat them.
The playoff scores were almost comical in how one-sided they were. They beat Wickliffe 41-3, handled Smithville 35-7, and took care of Garaway 21-7. By the time they reached the state championship game in Canton on December 6, 2025, they looked invincible.
They faced Hopewell-Loudon for the title. It was supposed to be a battle. It was a 41-6 blowout instead.
Senior running back John Silvestro had the game of his life. 255 rushing yards. Four touchdowns. He basically moved through the defense like they were standing still. Meanwhile, the coach's son, Jake LaVerde, directed the offense at quarterback with surgical precision, adding 112 yards on the ground himself. It was the program's eighth state championship since 2011. Think about that. Eight rings in 14 years.
Where the Hornets Play: Wilson Stadium
If you’re planning to catch a game on the 2026 schedule, you'll be headed to Wilson Stadium on Chillicothe Road. It’s a relatively new vibe there. They finished major renovations in late 2023, so it’s got that "new car smell" still.
The stadium features:
- High-quality synthetic turf (essential for those muddy Northeast Ohio Octobers).
- A massive 14′ by 25′ digital scoreboard that actually looks like something you'd see at a small college.
- New LED lighting that makes Friday night games look like they're being played in mid-day sun.
Tickets are usually handled through GoFan. Don't expect to just walk up to the gate for a big rivalry game or a playoff matchup and find a seat easily. This town shows up. The capacity is around 1,300, which feels huge when the "Hornet Pride" crowd is screaming.
What Most People Get Wrong About Kirtland Football
There’s a common misconception that Kirtland just "out-talents" everyone because they're a "private school in disguise." That’s nonsense. Kirtland is a small public district. The secret isn't some shady recruiting; it's the culture.
You see it in the stats. In 2025, they scored 604 points and only allowed 118. That’s an average score of about 40-8. You don't get those numbers just by having one fast kid. You get them by having 11 guys on the field who know exactly where they’re supposed to be on every single snap.
Jake LaVerde, for example, has been the starter for four years. He's played in four straight state championship games. That kind of experience is rare in high school sports. When you have a quarterback who has literally seen every defensive look imaginable, the game slows down.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
While the official 2026 dates haven't all been finalized by the OHSAA yet, the structure of the kirtland ohio football schedule usually stays consistent. You can bet they'll open with a tough non-conference opponent in late August. They’ll likely keep rivals like Perry and Cuyahoga Heights on the calendar because those games draw the biggest crowds and provide the best preparation.
If you’re an opposing coach, you're looking at a Kirtland roster that loses some legendary seniors like Silvestro and the younger LaVerde, but the pipeline is deep. The middle school and JV programs run the same system. The kids grow up dreaming of wearing the navy and gold.
Practical Advice for Fans and Parents
If you are following the team next season, here is the "insider" way to do it:
- Watch the Weather: Kirtland sits in a bit of a snow belt. A clear 50-degree day in September can turn into a 30-degree gale by late October. Dress in layers.
- Parking Strategy: The high school lot fills up fast. If you aren't there 45 minutes before kickoff, you’re going to be walking a bit from the side streets.
- Follow the "Stat Crew": The Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew on social media is arguably better than most local news outlets. They post live updates, roster changes, and schedule tweaks faster than anyone else.
- Buy Postseason Tickets Early: Once the Hornets hit the regional semifinals, the games often move to neutral sites. These venues can vary in size, and Kirtland fans travel well. Don't wait until Friday afternoon to log into GoFan.
The 2025 season was one for the history books, cementing Tiger LaVerde as perhaps the greatest high school coach in Ohio history. Whether they can repeat the "Perfect 15" in 2026 remains to be seen, but betting against the Hornets is usually a losing proposition.
To stay updated on the official release of the 2026 schedule, keep an eye on the Kirtland Local Schools athletics portal or the OHSAA Southeast/Northeast regional brackets. The first scrimmage dates usually drop in early August.