Division V, 7:30 p.m.
A look at the Versailles Tigers
Head coach: Ryan Jones (22-11 in his third season)
Record: 14-1
How they got here: Defeated Summit Country Day 49-14, Carlisle 34-8, Taft 14-0, Preble Shawnee 28-0 and Harvest Prep 28-22
Offensive player to watch: Senior Carsen Bey is the definition of dual-threat quarterback. Bey doesn’t necessarily throw it a lot per game, averaging around 13 pass attempts per game, but is very effective when he does pass. However, it’s his ability to take off and run that makes him truly dangerous.
Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Landon Henry is just one cog in what has been an all-for-one defensive effort from the Tigers this season. That said, Henry has stood out with his ability to get his hands on the football. The last two weeks, in both the regional final and state semifinals, Henry came up with key interceptions to either preserve a shutout or flip momentum.
Specialist to watch: Senior Chase McEldowney has been steady with his leg this season, going 55-of-59 on PATs.
Keep an eye out for ... the different backs who will have to make plays to help out Bey. Henry, Jack Osborne and Gabe Thompson have all carried the ball quite a bit for Versailles. They’ve been the ones who have complimented their talented quarterback, preventing opposing defenses from just keying on him. Against a defense such as Kirtland’s, that’s going to be extra important.
Quick hits: Versailles is in its first state championship game since losing to Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the 2004 Division IV title game. The Tigers are in their 10th state championship game all-time. … Versailles is looking for its seventh state championship, and first since 2003. The Tigers won five in the 1990s — 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. That’s the second-most state titles for a school in that decade, behind the sixth titles St. Ignatius won. … Versailles is in its 20th playoff appearance. The Tigers are 52-13 all-time in the postseason. … The lone blemish on Versailles’ record is a Week 3 loss to fellow state finalist Marion Local. … Versailles had a 54-game win streak from 1993-1996, one which was ended by Marion Pleasant in the state championship game in 1996. The Tigers are trying to end Kirtland’s 55-game win streak. … The 22 points Versailles gave up in the state semifinal against Harvest Prep are a season high. The previous high was the 19 allowed in the loss to Marion Local, as well as a 24-19 win over New Bremen.
A look at the Kirtland Hornets
Head coach: Tiger Laverde (199-17 in his 16th season)
Record: 14-0
How they got here: Defeated Harrison Central 56-0, Manchester 37-0, Garrettsville Garfield 25-7, South Range 38-15 and Ottawa-Glandorf 28-6
Offensive player to watch: Senior running back Mason Rus is the man to watch when the Hornets have the football. Rus has rushed for a school-record 1,959 yards, rushing for more than 100 yards in all but one game this season. Rus has scored 25 TDs.
Defensive player to watch: Kirtland’s defense has been nasty all season, with a lot of quality players. Rus, though, is also the standout on that side of the ball. The Northeast Lakes District Division V Defensive Player of the Year made 18 tackles for loss and 78 total tackles in nine regular-season games.
Specialist to watch: When you score as many touchdowns as Kirtland does, it’s good to have someone who can make sure you can get the full seven points. Johnny Raguz is 58-of-64 on PATs this season. Raguz also has made all four of his field goal tries.
Keep an eye out for ... what quarterback Ramon Lescano can do to be the counter to Rus. The first-year starter isn’t asked to throw the football a lot, having completed 55-of-98 passes for 1,175 yards. However, he’s effective when he does throw it, with 20 TD passes and just three interceptions. Lescano can also tuck the ball and run it, with 456 yards and seven TDs on 94 carries.
Quick hits: Kirtland has won 55 games in a row, the longest active win streak in the nation. The last time the Hornets lost came in the 2017 Division VI title game to Marion Local. The 55-game win streak is the second longest in Ohio history behind the 57-game streak by Delphos St. John’s from 1996-2001. … The last deficit Kirtland faced was in the third quarter of a 2019 first-round playoff game against Sandy Valley. Since rallying for a 38-24 win in that game, the Hornets have not trailed for the next 1,408 minutes and one second. … Kirtland is looking for its seventh state championship, and fourth in a row. The Hornets are in their 10th state final. … Only three offensive and three defensive starters returned from last year’s title team. … Kirtland is in its 17th playoff appearance. The Hornets have posted a 54-10 all-time playoff record. … Ashtabula Lakeside scored 28 points in a 35-point Week 8 loss to Kirtland. That’s one of only two teams to score double figures against Kirtland. The other was South Range in the regional final.