MASSILLON, Ohio — Kirtland senior Tim Blankenship can rest easy from now on. Last August, Blankenship dozed off one night on coach Tiger LaVerde's leather recliner while Blankenship and his girlfriend babysat LaVerde's four children.
MASSILLON, Ohio — Kirtland senior Tim Blankenship can rest easy from now on.
Last August, Blankenship dozed off one night on coach Tiger LaVerde's leather recliner while Blankenship and his girlfriend babysat LaVerde's four children.
When the LaVerde's returned home, the coach said, "You like that recliner?"
"I'm loving it," Blankenship responded.
Then LaVerde made a promise he will probably have a hard time explaining to his wife, Mary, today.
"Timmy, if we win states, you get that recliner you're sitting on," LaVerde told Blankenship.
Kirtland won the Division V state championship Friday, defeating Coldwater, 28-7, in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
"I'm going to feel bad taking it, but he gets the trophy, and I get the recliner," Blankenship said.
Tradition:Avon coach Mike Elder held true to his way of letting his seniors walk off the field first after their last high school game.
With emotion hanging heavy in the 42-28 loss to Trotwood-Madison in the Division II final, Elder told his non-seniors to hold their positions on the field as he instructed his senior players to walk off together a final time.
It was another reminder of a good coach keeping his composure and thinking about his players during a very disappointing time.
Kick it, coach: LaVerde said he regretted not kicking a field goal when his team faced fourth-and-1 while leading, 14-0, in the third quarter. The Hornets did not convert the first down.
"Now that we didn't get it, I think we should have kicked the field goal," LaVerde said. "Being up, 17-nothing, would have been great. We were in the state championship game and we were trying to put them away."
Well played: Kirtland and Coldwater combined to commit three penalties for 20 yards, and neither team had a turnover.
Eagles on tour: Before departing for Massillon, Avon's team buses passed through the parking lots of the district's elementary schools and middle school and students stood outside, waving to the team. They received a police escort out of town.
Hall of Famer presents balls: Looking sturdy at age 61, football Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood presented game balls to each team after the games Friday. He was a guest of the Stark County Visitors Bureau.
Recruiting radar: Kirtland junior tailback/safety Damon Washington said he was contacted by Wisconsin and Northwestern this week, and each requested film.
Shiver me timbers: Kirtland assistant coach Jeff Eckles was shivering on the sidelines about an hour before the opening kick. He was wearing short pants and a T-shirt, with the temperature in the high 30s. However, he was later seen in the coaches box where it was much warmer.
Cover guys: Kendrick Wilbert of Maple Heights and St. Edward's Patrick Barry Jr. are two of the six players pictured on this year's state tournament program. Maple Heights won in Division II last season, and the Eagles won the Division I crown.
Garbage time: One of the halftime songs played by Coldwater's marching band featured percussion members keeping the beat on nine aluminum garbage cans.
Another tough hombre: Kirtland running back Christian Hauber gutted it out with an injured left ankle Friday. But offensive right tackle Erick Zuberer is also one gutsy Hornet.
Zuberer will join the Marine Corps on July 9, 2012.
"We knew every thing would be OK because [Hauber] is a beast," said the 6-2, 235-pound Zuberer. "He'd be perfectly fine and tough it out for one final game.
"This comes down to more than preparation. It's about determination, heart and team effort."
Zuberer said he plans to be in the infantry when he reports for basic training in the summer.
Strange play: Coldwater senior two-way tackle Alex Grieshop got his name listed in the official statistics with a 6-yard reception.
On the first play of Coldwater's lone scoring drive in the third quarter, quarterback Austin Bruns had his pass tipped by a Kirtland player. The ball bounced off a Coldwater running back and into the arms of Grieshop, who bulled ahead for his yardage.
After a discussion, the referees waved off a penalty because the ball had been tipped.
"I just tried to get control of it and run," said Grieshop.
He was also involved in the play when Kirtland's Hauber got hurt. Grieshop made the tackle and was on the ground when Hauber rolled his left ankle over the player.
-- Bob Fortuna, Joe Maxse,Tim Warsinskey
Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-1389653702098283898
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