The weather at Serpentini Stadium in North Royalton on Nov. 22 was fit for neither man nor beast. The sheeting rain and whipping winds was right in the wheelhouse for a Cookie Monster, though. Nicknamed “Cookie Monster” by his teammates for his penchant for chowing down cookies, Kirtland senior Danny Alfieri did some serious eating in a 41-6 win over Dalton in the Division VI, Region 21 championship game by running for 202 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions. The win puts the undefeated Hornets (14-0) into a Nov. 29 state final four matchup against fellow unbeaten Galion Northmor, a 37-6 winner over Grandview Heights in the Region 23 championship game. Danny Alfieri-, the Cookie Monster – had a big night tonight. Four touchdowns in the @kirtlandFB 41-8 win over @DHSBulldogsFB pic.twitter.com/pasVjz0CDx — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) November 23, 2024 Alfieri had touchdown runs of 32, 14, 44 and 1 yards — all in the first half — to stake his team to a 28-0 lead. He and many of the Kirtland starters spent a good hunk of the second half on the sideline as the Hornets enjoyed a running clock situation for the 13th time this season. This one led directly to the state final four, a journey Kirtland has now made 13 times in the era of Coach Tiger LaVerde. “We’ve just got to do the same thing we’ve done the whole playoffs,” Alfieri said, “run the crap out of the ball and play good defense.” Kirtland jumped on Dalton (10-4) early and often, needing only two plays to take an early 6-0 lead on a 32-yard touchdown run by Alfieri. Then after Lucci Cantini recovered a Dalton fumble, the Hornets needed only three plays to score again, with Alfieri running in from the 14 before some fans even got settled into their soggy seats. TOUCHDOWN! Danny Alfieri scores his 3rd TD tonight & 33rd of the season. More like Danny Alfi3ri! He also runs in the conversion. Kirtland leads Dalton 20-0 with 8:10 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/OsayEXWqjP — Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew (@hornetstatcrew) November 23, 2024 “We’re a running team,” Alfieri said. “This weather helps us a lot against a passing team like Dalton. Two games ago, we came out flat. We made an emphasis to come out strong. We did it last week and did it again this week.” Things didn’t get any better for the Bulldogs, who also lost to Kirtland, 55-34, in the season-opener. Alfieri scored on a 44-yard touchdown run, also adding a two-point conversion run, early in the second for a 20-0 lead. Then after a Jack Lessick interception, one of two picks the junior defensive back had, Alfieri had a one-yard scoring run and another conversion run for a 28-0 halftime lead. TOUCHDOWN! Danny Alfieri cashes in his 4th TD of the first half AND gets another conversion. Kirtland leads Dalton 28-0 with 3:20 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/TU4TCLUcHd — Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew (@hornetstatcrew) November 23, 2024 “He was a beast,” Coach Tiger LaVerde said of his senior running back who now has 1,430 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. “He played one of his best games ever tonight.” Danny Alfieri with a stiff arm you have to see to believe! WOW! pic.twitter.com/1aphISXv77 — Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew (@hornetstatcrew) November 23, 2024 When John Silvestro ran in from 44 yards to start the third quarter, Kirtland’s lead grew to 34-0 to kick-start the running clock situation. TOUCHDOWN! John Silvestro scampers in for his first score. Kirtland leads Dalton 34-0 with 10:56 left in the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/iTtozOOWbB — Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew (@hornetstatcrew) November 23, 2024 For the second time this season, Kirtland did not complete a pass against Dalton, but it didn’t need to. After rushing for 507 yards in the opener, the Hornets ran for 367 yards this time, giving Kirtland 874 yards of real estate on the ground in two games against the Bulldogs this season. “The best line in the state,” Alfieri said, crediting the blockers for his eight touchdowns against the Bulldogs this season. The first time the teams met, Dalton hung 34 points on the Hornets. That didn’t happen this time. The Bulldogs didn’t hit paydirt until late in the game on a Carter Hignight four-yard run, which came on the heels of Kirtland’s final score of the night on a Sebastian Becker touchdown run. Casey Carkhuff with a TFL to end the first quarter. Kirtland leads Dalton 12-0. pic.twitter.com/3mczrYcKUg — Kirtland Hornet Stat Crew (@hornetstatcrew) November 23, 2024 Dalton finished with 183 total yards, only 34 of which came through the air. The Bulldogs threw for 279 yards against the Hornets earlier in the season. “The weather helped us tonight,” LaVerde said. “Half of what they want to do on offense they couldn’t do tonight.” Casey Carkhuff of @kirtlandFB discusses his team’s performance in a regional championship win tonight. pic.twitter.com/bG6oYH5VBB — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) November 23, 2024 Linebacker Casey Carkhuff, though, said his team came out motivated after giving up 34 points in the first meeting. “We had to shut them down,” he said. “They’re quick and fast. We couldn’t let them hang around.” Aside from Alfieri’s big night, Kirtland got 73 yards rushing from Silvestro and 46 from junior quarterback Jake LaVerde, who made his return after missing the past seven weeks with a broken arm. LaVerde sat out the second half in a precautionary measure to keep him healthy for next week’s state semifinal. “It felt great,” he said. “I haven’t been back in, what, eight weeks? I was a little nervous just to protect my arm, but it felt good. We got the ‘dub,’ so I’m happy.” After receiving the regional championship trophy and after assistant Ryan Beeler, as he does after every Kirtland win, danced, the Hornets started making Thanksgiving day plans. “Hey,” Coach LaVerde yelled, “We get to practice on Thanksgiving.” Something his team will do for the 13th time under his tutelage. THE SCORE Kirtland 41, Dalton 6 . @kirtlandFB wins so Beeler Dances . pic.twitter.com/QkkQvKwVcC — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) November 23, 2024