CANTON — The overlook on the Lucky Stone Loop trail in Chapin Forest Reservation or the Emergent Tower at Holden Arboretum could be regarded as being in the running for premier perch in Kirtland, especially when the leaves turn in late October. In truth, they’re second best. Because the premier perch is the one from which the Kirtland football program reigns each fall, day after day toiling toward perfection on Route 306. Dec. 6 in the Division VI state championship game against Hopewell-Loudon, the Hornets reached the apex of that perch once more. Perfect once more. PHOTOS: Kirtland vs. Hopewell-Loudon football, Dec. 6, 2025 And just like Chapin or Holden, the view from those spots at the most opportune time of the year is spectacular, extending as far as the eye can see, golden in hue. That will do it! Final score @kirtlandFB 41 Hopewell London 6. The Hornets are state champions again. pic.twitter.com/YSYQpxtbMy — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 John Silvestro had one of the best individual rushing performances ever by a News-Herald coverage area player in a state final, running for 255 yards on 19 carries with four touchdowns as part of a sterling 433-yard evening overall on the ground, as Kirtland overwhelmed Hopewell-Loudon, 41-6, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Hornets (15-0) captured their eighth state title, becoming the seventh program on the gridiron in the Buckeye State to reach eight, a list of luminaries paced by Maria Stein Marion Local's 15 state crowns. "We're thrilled with how these guys performed," Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde said. "How they took care of the football. How we ran the ball and played great defense. These guys got to play together one last time." Protecting a 14-0 lead to start the second half, Kirtland forced a quick three-and-out and a punt. If some freedom could be afforded as to what constitutes a verb, the Hornets "Kirtland-ed" the next drive. There’s the hat trick for John Silvestro. Set up by his long run on an option play… with 833 remaining in the third quarter, @kirtlandFB leads 21-0 pic.twitter.com/jQEHc02IWT — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 Six plays, covering 64 yards. All on the ground. Silvestro supplied the final three on a touchdown run, his third of the game and 36th of the season to make it a 21-0 game. The senior workhorse had earlier delivered a backbreaking 57-yard jaunt to the Chieftains' 3 on a third-and-7 on a quality option pitch from Jake LaVerde. Kirtland's John Silvestro scores a first-half touchdown as Caden Fall reacts Dec. 6 during the Division VI state final in Canton against Hopewell-Loudon. (Paul DiCicco - for The News-Herald) The Kirtland pass defense tightened up a bit better as opposed to the opening half. Another punt was forced, and Silvestro started the party bus back to Lake County early. He rumbled 62 yards for his fourth scoring jaunt of the afternoon, featuring a nice inside cut to break free and break the Hornets free in the process at 28-0. John Silvestro 62 yard… his FOURTH of the day,,, this one is all but over. It’s 28-0 in the third. @kirtlandFB pic.twitter.com/LrfM5rp7NC — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 That put Silvestro at 241 yards on 15 carries, en route to an evening that left him a mere four years off the top 10 all-time for individual rushing yards in any division in a state final. "It feels good," Silvestro said succinctly. "He's a man of few words," LaVerde interjected half-kiddingly. Of course, the thing is, 433 rushing yards in a state championship game is a soliloquy in and of itself. "Up front, it's been amazing," senior guard Zach Freeburg said. "Lucci (Cantini), my center, he really got me in. We didn't have to communicate on some plays. Sometimes, we just look at each other and we know. It's really good to have a group like that." Kirtland struck first on its opening possession on a seven-yard touchdown run by Silvestro. The Hornets had faced a fourth-and-5 earlier in the drive from the Hopewell-Loudon 45. But Jake LaVerde executed a first-class play-fake and floated a pass over the middle to a wide-open Ryan Caimi for a 32-yard completion to the 13. Touchdown @kirtlandFB . John Silvestro with the run…. The key play on the drive was a fourth down pass to Ryan Caimi. pic.twitter.com/g142yIMD5A — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 "We put it in this week," LaVerde said of the fourth-down pass play. "We ran it all week, and we had confidence in it. We've got confidence in Jake here. He put it on the nose." Hopewell-Loudon strung together a 16-play drive, seeking a response. But an illegal man downfield penalty on the Chieftains snuffed momentum. Lucci Cantini had a key four-yard tackle for loss, and Zander Perko applied pressure on fourth down to force an errant pass and turnover on downs. After one, @kirtlandFB leads 7-0… this 54 yard run by John Silvestro has the Hornets in scoring position again pic.twitter.com/smRfvoGjJi — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 "Obviously Kirtland, they're really good," Hopewell-Loudon coach Brian Colatruglio said. "I knew coming in, we had to play our absolute best and be perfect just to compete. "Honestly, you watch them and you think, 'OK. They're a run team. They're just going to pound, pound, pound.' And it's really sophisticated what they do." Right out of the chute off that stop, Silvestro ripped off a 54-yard run to the Hopewell-Loudon 31. The Hornets already had 104 yards on the ground by the end of the opening quarter. Five plays later, Silvestro collected a toss for a four-yard TD jaunt. Marko Valentic's extra point opened a 14-0 advantage. Touchdown @kirtlandFB . On the first play of the second quarter, John Silvestro, 4 yard run. It’s 14-0 pic.twitter.com/a82jfMDmb4 — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 Caimi came up with another big first-half play thereafter. With Hopewell-Loudon facing a third-and-13 at the Hornets' 45, Jacoby Ellis sought to thread a pass down the right side for a Chieftains' receiver. Initially, the receiver looked to have possession, but Caimi completed the play on the way down, ripping the ball away for an interception. It was his third of the fall. Ryan Caimi wins a 50-50 ball for the interception. @kirtlandFB pic.twitter.com/dXoR3BZnyL — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 Hopewell-Loudon made one last push to make it a one-possession game, following an interception by Jack Colatruglio. But Mario Lorber got the Hornets' second pick of the half, leaving it 14-0 heading into the locker room. Then came the Hornet hammer in the second half. Given the propensity with which the Hornets get to this perch, Chapin and Holden will just have to accept being second best. "I don't know — every year, I think we're going to stink, and every year these guys surprise the crap out of me," LaVerde said. "They work hard in the offseason and we end up being decent at the end of the year. Every year, I go into the season: 'Oh my gosh. How are we going to replace X, Y and Z? And every year, these guys work hard. "They care so much. They love each other. And they do what it takes. It's a gritty group of kids right here." Mario lorber with the interception. At the half @kirtlandFB leads 14-0 pic.twitter.com/9Ps70FFxob — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 Big PBU by Lucci Cantini, Hopewell Louden will punt. With 306 remaining in the half, @kirtlandFB leads 14-0. pic.twitter.com/naJ1vXUkI4 — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025 After a Hopewell Louden TD the Hornets score again via Ty Bledsoe. With 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter it’s 34-6 @kirtlandFB pic.twitter.com/91TWtLbBLp — News-Herald preps (@NHPreps) December 6, 2025   ...read more read less