Division VI State Semifinal: Northmor (14-0) vs. Kirtland (14-0)

Kirtland4580

Kirtland4580

Well-known member
One of four matchups between unbeaten teams in Week 15. Congrats to Northmor on their first regional championship & congrats to the Hornets on their 8th straight regional title. Sounds like the Golden Knights have had a special season, given their 14-0 record. I know they have an excellent QB & receiver and their defense has been stout this year for the most part. The Hornets have kept the same formula since 2011 into this season; run the ball, kill the clock, swarm on defense. Should be a good one in Minerva on Friday!
 
 
So will say Grandview Hts was able to run on Northmor til the Ohlinger got hurt- but a block punt and poor ability to get rid of the ball changed the flow of this game- Kirtland wins this about 40-13. Kirtland's history is the love to run the ball so think this game will work out well for the Hornets.
 
Will Kirtland push their record in State Semifinal games to 13-0?
Will Northmor win in their first trip to the State Semifinals?

Tournament factoids on Northmor:
  • 2024 is their 8th playoff appearance; has qualified each season since first qualifying in 2017.
  • All-time playoff record is 8-7.
  • 2023 was the only season prior to 2024 with more than one playoff victory.

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TriangleMan said:
Will Kirtland push their record in State Semifinal games to 13-0?
Will Northmor win in their first trip to the State Semifinals?

Tournament factoids on Northmor:
  • 2024 is their 8th playoff appearance; has qualified each season since first qualifying in 2017.
  • All-time playoff record is 8-7.
  • 2023 was the only season prior to 2024 with more than one playoff victory.

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@TriangleMan, you might be one to know this…has another team won its first 12 or 13 state semifinals played? Can’t imagine the list of teams is very large to have made 12 or 13 final fours, but it’s a record I think is in more & more danger every time the Hornets have made the state semis.

Thanks for the info on Northmor. 8 straight playoff appearances after first qualifying in 2017 means they have a great foundation & consistency they are building!
 
I believe this will be about the same as last week. Northmor and Dalton have a similar offense, IMO Dalton is more physical and thats it.
48-7 Hornets
 
AirRaidLeach said:
I believe this will be about the same as last week. Northmor and Dalton have a similar offense, IMO Dalton is more physical and thats it.
48-7 Hornets
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I expect a Kirtland victory, but not a running clock. I believe Northmar hangs around a bit and makes it competitive, but Hornets talent (and experience) points to a 2-3 score win.
 
Kirtland4580 said:
@TriangleMan, you might be one to know this…has another team won its first 12 or 13 state semifinals played? Can’t imagine the list of teams is very large to have made 12 or 13 final fours, but it’s a record I think is in more & more danger every time the Hornets have made the state semis.

Thanks for the info on Northmor. 8 straight playoff appearances after first qualifying in 2017 means they have a great foundation & consistency they are building!
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Of the teams that have appeared in 12 or more semifinals, the next best opening run to Kirtland is St. Ignatius, who won in their first 8 appearances in the semis (1988, 1989, 1991-1996) before losing in 1997.

Teams with 12+ Appearances in State Semifinals (incl. 2024)
28 Newark Catholic
22 Maria Stein Marion Local
20 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller
20 Steubenville
18 Coldwater
17 Mogadore
17 Youngstown Cardinal Mooney
16 Massillon Washington
15 Cleveland St. Ignatius
15 Ironton
15 Versailles
14 Lakewood St. Edward
13 Delphos St. John’s
13 Kettering Archbishop Alter
13 Kirtland
12 Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
12 Columbus St. Francis DeSales
 
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I don't know anything about this team - but if you make it to the Final 4 teams in any division you must be pretty good. It is disrespectful to the competing teams to say one will put a running clock on the other. Each week is a new challenge and this is a team Kirtland has no experience playing. I guess that works both ways as well. I'm not sure Northmor has seen an offensive line and running attack like the one the Hornets possess either. I'm excited to watch what unfolds. I just find a running clock to be unlikely at this point in the season.
 
Kirtland4580 said:
@TriangleMan, you might be one to know this…has another team won its first 12 or 13 state semifinals played? Can’t imagine the list of teams is very large to have made 12 or 13 final fours, but it’s a record I think is in more & more danger every time the Hornets have made the state semis.

Thanks for the info on Northmor. 8 straight playoff appearances after first qualifying in 2017 means they have a great foundation & consistency they are building!
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@TriangleMan correct me if I'm wrong but to my knowledge the only other team that has at least 6 semifinals appearances and is still undefeated in those games is Cincinnati Princeton at 6-0. Of course Princeton has not been to the semis since 1990 but I believe they are still undefeated in the semis are they not?
 
YTOWN said:
@TriangleMan correct me if I'm wrong but to my knowledge the only other team that has at least 6 semifinals appearances and is still undefeated in those games is Cincinnati Princeton at 6-0. Of course Princeton has not been to the semis since 1990 but I believe they are still undefeated in the semis are they not?
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That is correct. (y)

I show 53 schools undefeated in the semifinals, some of which are defunct (e.g., CAPE, Warren Western Reserve) and many of which are 1-0, with the next best after Princeton being CAPE and Huber Heights Wayne at 4-0.

Think we should have a separate playoff trivia thread this year after the finals?
 
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TriangleMan said:
That is correct. (y)

I show 53 schools undefeated in the semifinals, some of which are defunct (e.g., CAPE, Warren Western Reserve) and many of which are 1-0, with the next best after Princeton being CAPE and Huber Heights Wayne at 4-0.

Think we should have a separate playoff trivia thread this year after the finals?
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I know Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education is not undefeated in championship games. Though it was a close first half, my Cougars destroyed CAPE in the 1991 Division III state championship. Lake had Jurevicius and that was their first state championship. If I’m not mistaken, I think Carlos Snow was a graduate of CAPE.

I could also be wrong about this, but I believe CAPE closed the following year.
 
lchsman said:
I know Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education is not undefeated in championship games. Though it was a close first half, my Cougars destroyed CAPE in the 1991 Division III state championship. Lake had Jurevicius and that was their first state championship. If I’m not mistaken, I think Carlos Snow was a graduate of CAPE.

I could also be wrong about this, but I believe CAPE closed the following year.
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lchsman,

While your boys were repeating as D3 champs in 1992 after beating CAPE in the 91 final the Crusaders were beating defending champ Warren JFK in the D4 title game to win their 3rd state title. CAPE qualified in D4 again in 1993 but lost to Versailles in the 2nd round. That was their last game as the school closed the following spring. Mr. Snow was the star RB of CAPE's back-to-back D4 title teams in 1985-86.

I believe that there are only 10 teams that have more than 1 championship game appearance that are undefeated in the title game and 8 of them have 2 appearances. There are no undefeated championship teams that have more than 4 title game appearances.
 
Kirtland4580 said:
@TriangleMan, you might be one to know this…has another team won its first 12 or 13 state semifinals played? Can’t imagine the list of teams is very large to have made 12 or 13 final fours, but it’s a record I think is in more & more danger every time the Hornets have made the state semis.
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Just out of curiosity, how many of the 13 semifinals matched Kirtland against the South East quadrant representative ?
 
big medicine said:
Just out of curiosity, how many of the 13 semifinals matched Kirtland against the South East quadrant representative ?
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Not much on geography, but here's the list.
  1. 2011 Bucyrus Wynford (42-0)
  2. 2012 Baltimore Liberty Union (41-6)
  3. 2013 Columbus Bishop Ready (10-7)
  4. 2014 Lucasville Valley (28-7)
  5. 2015 Columbus Grandview Heights (13-9)
  6. 2017 Nelsonville-York (44-0)
  7. 2018 Beverly Fort Frye (35-18)
  8. 2019 Oak Harbor (28-14)
  9. 2020 Tontogany Otsego (39-13)
  10. 2021 Ottawa-Glandorf (28-6)
  11. 2022 Beverly Fort Frye (41-6)
  12. 2023 Sugarcreek Garaway (17-0)
  13. 2024 Galion Northmor
 
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Bluestreak1980 said:
No but Kirtland vs Coldwater or (any MAC school) next best thing.
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Not looking ahead purposely but since we are dreaming up Kirtland matchups while waiting for week #15. I noticed Kirtland squeezed by a Perry team this year that was 2023 State Champs D5.
Perry just loss last week to 2x defending D4 State Champs Glenville.
My dream match would be Kirtland vs Glenville if they make it a 3 peat this year.
 
big medicine said:
Just out of curiosity, how many of the 13 semifinals matched Kirtland against the South East quadrant representative ?
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TriangleMan said:
Not much on geography, but here's the list.
  1. 2011 Bucyrus Wynford
  2. 2012 Baltimore Liberty Union
  3. 2013 Columbus Bishop Ready
  4. 2014 Lucasville Valley
  5. 2015 Columbus Grandview Heights
  6. 2017 Nelsonville-York
  7. 2018 Beverly Fort Frye
  8. 2109 Oak Harbor
  9. 2020 Tontogany Otsego
  10. 2021 Ottawa-Glandorf
  11. 2022 Beverly Fort Frye
  12. 2023 Sugarcreek Garaway
  13. 2024 Galion Northmor
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Looks like every year except 2019-2021 has been against the Southeast Ohio representative.
 
PirateRaider#22 said:
Not looking ahead purposely but since we are dreaming up Kirtland matchups while waiting for week #15. I noticed Kirtland squeezed by a Perry team this year that was 2023 State Champs D5.
Perry just loss last week to 2x defending D4 State Champs Glenville.
My dream match would be Kirtland vs Glenville if they make it a 3 peat this year.
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I know 7on7s don't mean much - but Kirtland did beat Glenville in the finals of the Deshawn Watson pre season tournament. I think in a regular game Glenville would have the advantage. Unfortunately for Perry the two biggest games of their season (and only 2 losses) came with horrible weather. They have a stout passing game that was neutralized by the downpour both games were played in. The weather absolutely helped Kirtland against the Pirates. The Hornets vs Tarblooders would depend on the conditions the game was played in. If it was played this Friday the Hornets would have a punchers chance. Glenville has a history to playing differently in bad weather. The poor weather conditions seem to effect the Tarblooders more then most teams. Glenville on a dry field with no rain is a handful - the weather is a great equalizer.
 
We got a bit off topic. Can someone give some insight on Northmor. What style to they play, what players to keep an eye on, strength and weaknesses, etc. It's pretty uncommon based on the run Kirtland has been on that they are facing a team they have never played before. I would love to learn and hear about Northmor. Someone indicated they are a lot like Dalton - but did not give much detail.
 
Bball216 said:
We got a bit off topic. Can someone give some insight on Northmor. What style to they play, what players to keep an eye on, strength and weaknesses, etc. It's pretty uncommon based on the run Kirtland has been on that they are facing a team they have never played before. I would love to learn and hear about Northmor. Someone indicated they are a lot like Dalton - but did not give much detail.
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Bball216 said:
We got a bit off topic. Can someone give some insight on Northmor. What style to they play, what players to keep an eye on, strength and weaknesses, etc. It's pretty uncommon based on the run Kirtland has been on that they are facing a team they have never played before. I would love to learn and hear about Northmor. Someone indicated they are a lot like Dalton - but did not give much detail.
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I was able to watch pieces of the streams of their last two games & have some takeaways…

1.) Their QB is REALLY REALLY stellar. Has every intangible you want in a QB. Good vision, very good pocket presence, knows when to throw under pressure & when to take off & run. Threw maybe one bad pass across the two games I saw. Wouldn’t be surprised if he is 1st Team All-Ohio & if his TD-INT ratio is sky high this year.
2.) Speaking of stellar, one of their receivers really stood out to me. Tall target, able to adjust his body & stop on a dime when he has to reel a pass in. Probably the best receiver Kirtland will have faced since Perry. Reminds me some of Kirtland’s best receiver (#20) from 2018-21. Their receiving core as a whole is very solid & didn’t drop many passes (if any at all, since almost all the throws were on the money).
3.) Both their lines helped win them the last two games. Kept a mostly clean pocket for their QB & the d-line & LBs wreaked havoc in both games.
4.) Their defense looks fundamentally sound & team-oriented, much like Kirtland defenses from the last decade or so. They had an amazing goal line stand against Ridgewood that would remind a lot of Kirtland fans of the 2019 goal line stand in the state title against Ironton.

Overall: Great, fundamental team. Undefeated for a reason. Stellar QB-WR tandem. Can run the ball effectively when they need to. Not a lot of observable weaknesses. They remind me to some extents of 2023 Garaway (who ended Northmor’s season last year if I recall) more than Dalton. A spread/gun-T type of offense & a smothering defense. Kirtland will be the best team they have played this season, but I’m expecting a good game on Friday.
 
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