Sometimes the phrase “instant classic” is overblown to describe a sporting event. “Instant Classic” doesn’t do justice to what happened Sept. 6 at Alumni Stadium in Perry. Kirtland, the reigning Division VI state champion in Ohio, knocked off Perry, the D-V state champion, 22-21 in triple overtime to avenge a 24-6 loss to the Pirates a year ago at Wilson Stadium in Kirtland. The defeat ended Kirtland’s streak of 57 consecutive wins in the regular season. But revenge was not what the Hornets were thinking about when they got the ball for the third time in overtime after Perry’s Dare’On Howard blasted into the end zone from the 2 on the Pirates’ third overtime possession for a 20-14 lead. The Kirtland Hornets celebrate their thrilling 22-21 victory over Perry in triple overtime Friday night. @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/Y6NQO1tnAj — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) September 7, 2024 The Hornets attempted a total of two passes in four quarters of regulation plus the first two scoreless overtimes. They got the ball for the third overtime and made it look as though they would run the ball for the 69th time in the game. Instead, senior quarterback Jake LaVerde faked the handoff and fired a 20-yard touchdown strike to a wide-open Niko Samac to cut the Perry lead to 21-20. Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde had a decision to make: Try a PAT to force a fourth overtime or go for the win. He might have spent a half-second thinking about it. At the most. "What a show. Triple overtime from two state champs. It doesn't get any better," Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde said Friday night after the Hornets nipped the Perry Pirates in triple overtime, 22-21. pic.twitter.com/zYbhGcpo53 — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) September 7, 2024 Jake LaVerde froze the Perry defense with his arm cocked ready to throw a pass, then darted around the right side and dove across the goal line just inside the pylon for the two-point conversion. The Perry defense swarmed the Hornets to stop them on third and fourth down in the second overtime Friday night. @NHPreps pic.twitter.com/VbQPV30qZX — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) September 7, 2024 To steal a line from the late Nev Chandler, former radio voice of the Browns, it was Pandemonium Palace on the Kirtland sideline and in the visitor’s stands. It was the first time since 2012 that the Hornets were involved in an overtime game. A dozen years ago they beat Beachwood, 20-18, in overtime. Kirtland’s Jake LaVerde looks to avert a Perry defender Sept. 6. (Paul DiCicco – for The News-Herald) “What a show!” Tiger LaVerde said. “Triple overtime from two state champions. This is what it’s all about. It doesn’t get any better. That’s a good football team over there. They’re going to win a lot of football games. “I’m so proud of these kids — just trusting each other, loving each other. Triple overtime against a state champion that won 18 straight games — it’s pretty special.” A steady rain through the first quarter and most of the second made holding onto the ball a challenge for players from both teams. Rain fell off and on in the second half. Kirtland turned the over twice on fumbles in the first quarter and a potential touchdown pass for the Pirates in the second quarter fell incomplete in the end zone. The rain stopped by the time the bands from each school proudly took the field at halftime with the Hornets leading, 14-7. Danny Alfieri scored from the 1 to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead with 10:35 left in the second quarter before Xavier Lasecki added the PAT. Another Kirtland fumble led directly to a game-tying touchdown for the Pirates when Owen McKoon scooped up a botched handoff between Jake LaVerde and Alfieri at the Kirtland 10. McKoon ran untouched to the end zone, then Colton Crissinger kicked the PAT to make it a 7-7 game. Terylo Turk scored on a 7-yard run and Lasecki nailed the PAT for a 14-7 Kirtland lead at intermission. A 14-yard run by McKoon in the third quarter and a PAT by Crissinger tied the score at 14. “We got a little overzealous and jumped the option pass,” Perry coach Bob Gecewich said. “At the end of the day, when you go three overtimes and only give up three scores, it means our offense isn’t doing their jobs, and that’s on me. “It’s two really good football programs battling it out. I think every kid on each team left it out there. Our kids played hard. There were a lot of errors we made that we can clean up.” The Hornets ran the ball 68 times for 367 yards. LaVerde carried 23 times for 150 yards. Alfieri had 24 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown. McKoon led Perry with 14 carries for 31 yards and one rushing touchdown. THE SCORE Kirtland 22, Perry 21 (3OT)