The Kirtland football team has a beautiful new artificial turf field, but it’s under a lot of snow. With that in mind, nearby Andrews Osborne Academy has offered up its indoor soccer facility for the Hornets to use as they prepare for their Division VI state championship game against Coldwater at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. This is the second year in a row inclement weather has prompted Kirtland to look for a nearby indoor facility to prepare for the state championship game. The Hornets practiced at AOA’s Indoor Athletic Center last December, also, in preparation for the 2023 state title game against Versailles. Kirtland will practice at AOA both Dec. 4 and Dec. 5. “I know Matt Paul, their athletic director, and he reached out to me,” AOA athletic director Rudy Kirbus said. “We like having people on our campus. We have a beautiful campus. We have the space they could use and are happy to help them out.” The Indoor Athletic Center is where the school’s equestrian facility used to be. Kirbus said there are two indoor turf soccer fields there. And while it’s not a regulation-sized football field, with yard markers and everything, it serves its purpose well for the Kirtland Hornets. “There’s no way we could get on our turf,” Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde said on an OHSAA conference call. “We’ll go there and get in a good workout. It’s close, it’s easy, we’ll take the bus up there, no big deal.” The lack of yard lines doesn’t matter, he said. “Not with what we do,” LaVerde said. “We’re not a spread team where you’ve got to get to the top of the number and make a break or have spacing on routes. For us, we want to get lined up right, get our blocking assignments. It’ll be fine for us.” The Hornets were set to spend Tuesday (Dec. 3). lifting, going over scouting reports and game plans. They’ll spend the following two days at AOA, then have a walkthrough Friday (Dec. 6) in the Kirtland gymnasium. The Hornets head to Canton this weekend with an all-time record in state championship games of 7-5. A win would give them their eighth gold trophy. Kirtland vs. Coldwater What: Division VI state semifinal championship game When: 10:30 a.m., Dec. 7 Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, 1835 Harrison Ave NW, Canton Records: Kirtland 15-0, Coldwater 14-1 Kirtland’s path: Defeated Rootstown, 62-0, def. Smithville, 39-0, def. Columbia, 41-7, def. Dalton, 41-6, def. Galion Northmor, 41-7 Coldwater’s path: Defeated Covington, 58-0, def. Northeastern, 56-7, def. St. Bernard, 56-0, def. Anna, 45-21, def. Bluffton, 28-6