Kirtland's Tiger LaVerde is the 2018 cleveland.com football Coach of the Year

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kirtland had only two football playoff appearances in program history before Tiger LaVerde took over in 2006 as coach.

Now, it has four state championships.

LaVerde (Kirtland athletics)

LaVerde guided the Hornets to their fourth OHSAA crown since 2011 with an undefeated season — his third unbeaten season in 13 years — to continue an uncanny run around Northeast Ohio.

LaVerde is the cleveland.com Coach of the Year for the 2018 season, which culminated with Kirtland's 16-7 victory against two-time defending Division VI state champion Maria Stein Marion Local.

This run could be argued as Kirtland's best, defensively.

The Hornets (15-0) gave up double-digit points only twice in regional final and state semifinal victories against Mogadore and Beverly Fort Frye. Seven times, Kirtland won with a shutout.

Four teams in the cleveland.com/Plain Dealer seven-county coverage area won state titles this year, and only Kirtland finished the season undefeated.

Coach of the Year finalists: Tony Gotto, Barberton; Justin Todd, Wadsworth; Shaq Washington, Maple Heights

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

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