Week 16 (Division VI State Championship): AP #3 Versailles (13-2) vs. AP #1 Kirtland (14-1)

Who wins?

  • Kirtland by 17+

    Votes: 11 17.2%
  • Kirtland by 8-16

    Votes: 14 21.9%
  • Kirtland by 1-7

    Votes: 19 29.7%
  • Versailles by 1-7

    Votes: 12 18.8%
  • Versailles by 8-16

    Votes: 8 12.5%
  • Versailles by 17+

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    64
  • Poll closed .
Kirtland definitely had a couple things go their way, but the 17 point margin of victory included a score by Versailles with under a minute to go and also Versailles getting "saved by the bell" at halftime with Kirtland one yard away from punching it in to go up by 3 scores at the half. Although the game could have possibly been closer, it also could have been 39-7, and the rushing stats reflect the fact that Kirtland was in control of this game.
 
Game Recap: Now that I'm home from the game I will access what I saw. I think everyone was expecting a defensive slugfest - that did not materialize. Kirtland came out of the gate hitting on defense. I know the gameplan going in was to contain #17. I was told the Tiger RB was the MAC offensive POY - but Kirtland was worried about the QB. Great scouting on their part because Versailles road him. Early in the game #10 for Kirtland lit up the Tiger WR in front of their bench and that seemed to set the tone - Kirtland was ready to play.

The Hornets may not always pass the eye test - but they quickly surprise you. The offense started doing what they do - which is push people.around and open holes. The two headed monster at RB kept the chains moving. The defense seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Like they have done all year the Hornets swarmed to the ball and tackled well. They always seem to be in position to stop the play - that is a tribute to the great coaching and game planning.

The Tiger defense could not get off the field enough and once Kirtland gets a lead - they just eat up the game clock with their methodical running attack. With the exception of the poor clock management before halftime and the missed wide open TD pass in the 3rd qtr - Kirtland played a really solid game. I thought the refs missed some really easy calls which ended up having to be reviewed - that IMO effected the flow of the game. I really think that 90 yard kick return after Versailles cut the game to a one score game was HUGE.

Kirtland just kept making play after play. They did give up a score in the last minute when the subs started being put in - but overall the kids balled out. They were a slip by a DB away from a possible shut out - that is amazing based on how good the Tigers are. This group of Hornets remember the feelings from the last two years and did not want a repeat. Today the Kirtland strength and conditioning program was put on display. These kids are strong across the board - no weak links. They are fundamentally sound and have the mental capacity to take on and execute game plans to a T.

There were no losers today. There was one team that scored more then the other. Both of these programs do things the right way and play the game year in and year out at an exceptional level. You saw small school ball at its best today. That #17 kid for Versailles is a stud. The kid played one heck of a game. He took a licking and kept coming back for more. Kirtland just had more playmakers this year at multiple positions. Tiger Nation should be proud of their team - they never gave up. Kirtland and their fans should be so proud of this team. To overcome early season injuries and makeshift lineups to end with a state championship is crazy. People on the outside have no idea how much work goes into being this good year in and year out. Congrats to both teams and let's hope for a rematch next year.
 
well said ..........a little surprised that late in the game , deep in tiger territory , after coach jones called a timeout , score 26 - 7........... laverde called a flea flicker play ........then scored on an option play Laverde to Beers......and like u said ....... second one recovered for a TD..............
coaches use their timeouts late in games ....... quite a bit , even games are in hand.................bottom line ........game was very clean ...guys helping each other ....although late in the game a versailles player got called for a personal foul after a play ....... understtod for sure................. a bunch of real tuff kids .....both squads ........... the versailles coach pulled the kid from the game................... don t see that enough
Just Real Impressed With both efforts ........Enjoy These smaller school Title Games Much More Than The Larger Divisions
This, the bigger divisions players must enjoy playing the game so much more than players in the smaller divisions, always celebrating after making a tackle, V and K players just get up after making a tackle helping the opponent up.
 
Having a son play in the 2021 game and having a Tigers defense that made Kirtland try to change who they are was the key. Today, Kirtland had Versailles playing a different style of offenses and that was the key. The talent of the defensive line and LB are the keys.
Congrats to the Hornets for being 1st team to 20.
 
This, the bigger divisions players must enjoy playing the game so much more than players in the smaller divisions, always celebrating after making a tackle, V and K players just get up after making a tackle helping the opponent up.
When I was growing up our coaches always preached to us to act like you’ve done it before. Score and just hand the ball to the ref. I guess times have changed where the big programs need to be celebratory. I teach my two grand sons the same thing I was taught. Play with sportsmanship and class.
 
This, the bigger divisions players must enjoy playing the game so much more than players in the smaller divisions, always celebrating after making a tackle, V and K players just get up after making a tackle helping the opponent up.
It was getting frustrating watching them parade around and no flags. Then ohsaa promotes "Respect the Game"
Whatever 🙄
 
When I was growing up our coaches always preached to us to act like you’ve done it before. Score and just hand the ball to the ref. I guess times have changed where the big programs need to be celebratory. I teach my two grand sons the same thing I was taught. Play with sportsmanship and class.
Agree that it is a bigger issue in the higher divisions. Problem is, they see sit at the college and pro levels and believe that is the propper way to act. And the media spotlights it. It's getting pathetic. High five your teammate and get ready for the next play. Apparently, this kind of...uh hem..."sportsmanship"...is what society wants anymore. No more Barry Sanders or Walter Paytons setting great examples for our youth. Yet, it also starts at HOME.
 
It was awesome to see two tradition rich well coached teams go at it yesterday. Both sides were hitting hard - and then helping each other up. That is what happens when you have elite culture and respect for your opponent. If you think that mentality just happens and it's not taught and cultivated - your mistaken. If the kids can show sportsmanship and respect on the field - it should be easy for the adults to do likewise.
 
Agree that it is a bigger issue in the higher divisions. Problem is, they see sit at the college and pro levels and believe that is the propper way to act. And the media spotlights it. It's getting pathetic. High five your teammate and get ready for the next play. Apparently, this kind of...uh hem..."sportsmanship"...is what society wants anymore. No more Barry Sanders or Walter Paytons setting great examples for our youth. Yet, it also starts at HOME.
as the late great Paul Brown said.." ACT LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE"
 
It was awesome to see two tradition rich well coached teams go at it yesterday. Both sides were hitting hard - and then helping each other up. That is what happens when you have elite culture and respect for your opponent. If you think that mentality just happens and it's not taught and cultivated - your mistaken. If the kids can show sportsmanship and respect on the field - it should be easy for the adults to do likewise.
I wonder if it is taught to come up and illegally come up and take out blockers below the waste.
 
Congratulations to Kirtland on your 7th Title. Curious to see how my pirates would of fared this year against Versailles.
 
"Winning Breeds Winning"
Gets the boys out for football. They want to be a part of it. Carry on the tradition, especially with siblings.

Do the Hornets have pee-wee football?
Very few teams in the MAC do.
Maybe Parkway and DSJ.

Kirtland has youth football. These boys have played together since 2nd grade. Their league has all bigger schools that you may have heard of. (Mentor, Painesville Riverside, Kenston, Solon, Willoughby South, Eastlake North, Perry, Chardon) Some of those teams are playing for state titles, were state semi-finalists, or went multiple rounds in the state playoffs this year.
Our freshman played Hoban this year.
JV played Avon 2x, Mayfield, Nordonia, and Medina Highland.
Varsity scrimaged Lake Catholic and Poland Seminary
Non-conference opponents were Perry and Dalton both playing for titles
7 on 7 varsity played and beat Chardon, beat North Olmsted, Glenville (lost in OT), Hoban (lost in OT), and beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic even though we are a running team.
Winning breeds winning, but something has to be said about challenging our boys with better competition.
 
Congrats to Kirtland! Wish that the ball could've bounced Versailles way a couple times, but Kirtland is a great program and earned the win. Look forward to seeing Versailles earn their way back here and get a chance at a new result!
 
Kirtland has youth football. These boys have played together since 2nd grade. Their league has all bigger schools that you may have heard of. (Mentor, Painesville Riverside, Kenston, Solon, Willoughby South, Eastlake North, Perry, Chardon) Some of those teams are playing for state titles, were state semi-finalists, or went multiple rounds in the state playoffs this year.
Our freshman played Hoban this year.
JV played Avon 2x, Mayfield, Nordonia, and Medina Highland.
Varsity scrimaged Lake Catholic and Poland Seminary
Non-conference opponents were Perry and Dalton both playing for titles
7 on 7 varsity played and beat Chardon, beat North Olmsted, Glenville (lost in OT), Hoban (lost in OT), and beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic even though we are a running team.
Winning breeds winning, but something has to be said about challenging our boys with better competition.
Point taken and agree to a point, yet the MAC's record of State Titles tends to support that "scheduling up" is not always necessary in the lower divisions. 😉
 
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Have you had ACL surgery?
Has your son had ACL surgery?
You were talking about sportsmanship.
It is not the reason Versailles lost, but it is ambarising that it wasn't called by ohsaa officials. They are suppose to be stressing safety and sportsmanship. I am sure coach wouldn't want someone to take out #1's knees.
 
Have you had ACL surgery?
Has your son had ACL surgery?
You were talking about sportsmanship.
It is not the reason Versailles lost, but it is ambarising that it wasn't called by ohsaa officials. They are suppose to be stressing safety and sportsmanship. I am sure coach wouldn't want someone to take out #1's knees.
Why would you even suggest Kirtland plays dirty - that is comical. People watch Kirtland all the time and NOBODY has ever accused them of any dirty play. This is football - unfortunately kids get hurt. Versailles also had some kids giving extra shots to kids after the whistle - finally #13 was called for it late in the game. SO WHAT - ITS FOOTBALL. Kirtland plays the game the right way because they are taught the right way. I'm sure if they were doing something so egregious that the refs would notice and put a stop to it.

What I saw yesterday was two teams playing football the proper way with great community support. To even suggest otherwise puts you in a bad look. I have never heard a MAC school say a bad word about Kirtland - so this is very surprising.
 
Kirtland has youth football. These boys have played together since 2nd grade. Their league has all bigger schools that you may have heard of. (Mentor, Painesville Riverside, Kenston, Solon, Willoughby South, Eastlake North, Perry, Chardon) Some of those teams are playing for state titles, were state semi-finalists, or went multiple rounds in the state playoffs this year.
Our freshman played Hoban this year.
JV played Avon 2x, Mayfield, Nordonia, and Medina Highland.
Varsity scrimaged Lake Catholic and Poland Seminary
Non-conference opponents were Perry and Dalton both playing for titles
7 on 7 varsity played and beat Chardon, beat North Olmsted, Glenville (lost in OT), Hoban (lost in OT), and beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic even though we are a running team.
Winning breeds winning, but something has to be said about challenging our boys with better competition.
I think the top MAC teams play challenging non-league games as well playing each other.
 
Side note about Kirtland. This AM less then 24hrs after winning their state title they had 47 kids at the school lifting and stretching. Their standard is their standard. People want to complain about CB - these are the things champions do to complete for championships. How many football players that were not playing today got a lift in ? Im guessing not many - that's the difference.
 
It's interesting that yesterday Kirtland won big over a team that played Marion close and Marion won big today over a team that played Kirtland close. Looks like the Hornets and Flyers turned it up a level or two in the playoffs.
Regardless of the point this season at which Kirtland turned it up, their performance against Versailles was highly impressive.

That said, I think the argument could possibly be made that Michael Osborne was the top player on the field, even though his team was on the wrong side of a not-so-close game.
 
It’s been a while since I have been on here. As many of you know I was a division 6 coach and mentor for nearly two decades. The art of running the football is apparent at this level, unlike the larger divisions where quarterbacks are throwing 20, 25 even 30 yards at times. I love how this program uses its ground game to defeat the likes of Cardinal and Py Valley and then ramp up in the playoffs against these tougher teams. My strongest team finished 6-4 in 87. We lost 51-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Down 51-0, I chose to take a late field goal. To this day, my players thank me for that decision. Think about that when you lay your head down tonight. Congratulations Kirtland. Another big year.
 
Why would you even suggest Kirtland plays dirty - that is comical. People watch Kirtland all the time and NOBODY has ever accused them of any dirty play. This is football - unfortunately kids get hurt. Versailles also had some kids giving extra shots to kids after the whistle - finally #13 was called for it late in the game. SO WHAT - ITS FOOTBALL. Kirtland plays the game the right way because they are taught the right way. I'm sure if they were doing something so egregious that the refs would notice and put a stop to it.

What I saw yesterday was two teams playing football the proper way with great community support. To even suggest otherwise puts you in a bad look. I have never heard a MAC school say a bad word about Kirtland - so this is very surprising.
The film don't lie.
 
Kirtland has youth football. These boys have played together since 2nd grade. Their league has all bigger schools that you may have heard of. (Mentor, Painesville Riverside, Kenston, Solon, Willoughby South, Eastlake North, Perry, Chardon) Some of those teams are playing for state titles, were state semi-finalists, or went multiple rounds in the state playoffs this year.
Our freshman played Hoban this year.
JV played Avon 2x, Mayfield, Nordonia, and Medina Highland.
Varsity scrimaged Lake Catholic and Poland Seminary
Non-conference opponents were Perry and Dalton both playing for titles
7 on 7 varsity played and beat Chardon, beat North Olmsted, Glenville (lost in OT), Hoban (lost in OT), and beat Pittsburgh Central Catholic even though we are a running team.
Winning breeds winning, but something has to be said about challenging our boys with better competition.
What are you saying here? They can compete with this schools in 11-11? They would not score against Hoban, glenville, Avon, and probably works not get past the 50 on them.
Nice D5 program but don’t put them in another category
 
What are you saying here? They can compete with this schools in 11-11? They would not score against Hoban, glenville, Avon, and probably works not get past the 50 on them.
Nice D5 program but don’t put them in another category
That is not what anybody said. The point being made is that is who the younger teams play in preparation to play varsity. The freshman and JVs play a rigorous schedule as do the Pee Wees. When these kids get to the varsity level they are not intimated by bigger teams because they are used to playing them.
 
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