CLYDE– The team everyone expected to be playing this time of year in the Kirtland Hornets will take on a team not many outside of Putnam County expected to be there on Saturday night in the Ottawa Glandorf Titans.
Kirtland enters the contest winners of 54 consecutive games and the three-time defending state champions and at 14-0 this season.
Currently the 54 straight wins by the Hornets rank them as the second longest winning streak in OHSAA history and just three from tying Delphos St. Johns record of 57 from 1996-2001.
Ottawa Glandorf brings an 11-3 record and an eight game winning streak into the contest that has seen the Titan defense pitch four shutouts and allow just 41 points since their last loss in September.
Region 17 champion Kirtland is coming off of a dominating 38-15 regional finals victory over previously unbeaten South Range while Region 18 winner OG dispatched Elyria Catholic 31-6 in nearly the same fashion.
Offensively for the Hornets running back Mason Rus leads a ground attack capable of long drives and chunks of yards each time they have the ball with 23 touchdowns and 1,798 yards. Backfield mate Tommy Gogolin has rushed for 10 scores and 729 yards on the season.
Quarterback Ramon Lescano is a dual-threat as he has rushed for over 400 yards and seven scores while throwing for 1,110 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Gage Sullivan is Lescano’s favorite target as the duo have connected 42 times for 881 yards and 17 touchdowns on the year for an offense that’s worst output of the season is 25 in an 18 point win on November 13th against Garfield.
Ottawa Glandorf is led by QB Landen Jordan, a multiple sport athlete who has connected on 173 of 297 attempts for 2,932 yards, 30 scores, and 10 interceptions while rushing for 455 yards and 12 scores.
Wideout Caleb Kuhlman is a favorite target of Jordan with 68 receptions for 1,365 yards and 14 touchdowns but is backed up by a deep core that includes a Division 1 college basketball recruit in sophomore Colin White (50 receptions, 835 yards, 9 scores).
Longtime OG head boss Ken Schriner played offensive line in college at Bowling Green State University and sees his front led by a University of Akron signee in left tackle Tyler Leopold.
Ian Fenbert has picked up 931 rushing yards behind Leopold and the Titans O-Line on 135 carries to go along with 16 scores in his teams fast paced shotgun oriented offense.
Kirtland head coach Tiger LaVerde has never been one to look ahead during his teams streak of success and will surely not let his team do the same come Saturday night.
While the Hornets were opening the season blasting opponents with their high octane offense and hard hitting defense that has allowed under seven points per game this season, the Titans struggled out of the gate.
Ottawa Glandorf suffered losses to open the first two games of the year at Eastwood (42-19) and at home against league foe Wapak (28-13) and found themselves with a 3-3 mark after week six of the year before reeling off an eight game win streak.
Waiting in the wings for the winner of Saturday night’s first time clash between the two programs is the victor of Harvest Prep vs Versailles on December 4th, at 8:00 P.M. in Canton.