No. 2 Kirtland 35, No. 3 Creston Norwayne 0: Hornets dominate Bobcats in Division VI, Region 21

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio -- A game of revenge took place Friday night at a cold and snowy Pat Catan Stadium, not with each other, but what is possibly to come.

The No. 2 Kirtland Hornets have gone 11-0 since last year’s 34-11 defeat to Marion in the Division VI State Championship.

For the No. 3 Creston Norwayne Bobcats, Friday’s Division VI Region 21 regional semifinal presented a chance to face off with No. 1 Mogadore, the only team to place a blemish an otherwise perfect record of 10-1.

But first, there was business to be settled, and Kirtland took care of the Bobcats, 35-0.

From the first Hornets play of the game, a 56-yard touchdown run from running back Joey Torok, to the last Bobcats possession of the game, a Norwayne fumble, Kirtland dominated.

Norwayne had no answer for the Kirtland running game, which totaled 295 yards on 42 touches, five for touchdowns. The two horses who led the way on the ground were Jake Neibecker, who toted the ball 17 times for 132 yards and a score; and Joey Torok, who found the end zone twice in the midst of his 15-carry, 122-yard game.

Torok has rushed for 1,473 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. Neibecker has accumulated 854 yards while finding the end zone 12 times.

“[Having multiple options in the backfield is] amazing,” said Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde.

Quarterback Tommy Powers added a couple rushing touchdowns for the Hornets as well, to go along with 30 yards passing.

It wasn’t all offense for Kirtland Friday night. The defense stepped up against an offense that was averaging 41.8 points per game. The Hornets allowed 124 yards combined, including 26 rushing yards on 28 carries.

Kirtland also was able to force two turnovers, the first an interception by defensive back Torok and a forced fumble by linebacker Ethan Jernejcic.

“We had to keep playing the chess match and see where they were hurting us and adjust,” said LaVerde. “Our kids did a great job of adjusting and fighting all game."

Friday’s shutout marks the second consecutive playoff game where the Hornets have given up nothing on the scoreboard, and the seventh shutout this season.

This win pushed Kirtland to 12-0 and gives them a matchup next week with top seed Mogadore in the regional finals.

Zach Harley is a freelancer from Parma, Ohio.