KIRTLAND, Ohio — Oddly enough, this could be considered a "close" game for Kirtland. Big leads tend to become common when you've won 46 regular-season games in a row.
The Hornets extended that streak Friday night by beating Lutheran West 21-0 in the WKYC High School Football Game of the Week. Neither team scored in the second half, with the Longhorns themselves mustering only 60 yards of offense on the evening.
Kirtland (2-0) had 221 yards offensively, including 182 on the ground. Rocco Alfieri rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown, and Gino Blasini had 60 yards on just five carries.
The Hornets nearly ran into disaster in the first quarter, when MacGuire Boyd fumbled at the goal line in a scoreless game. However, Casey Carkhuff pounced on the ball in the end zone, giving Kirtland the initial 6-0 lead.
Lutheran West (1-1) quarterbacks Landon McCarty and Jalany Theodore both struggled, combining to complete just 6 of 13 passes for 44 yards with a fumble by the former and an interception by the latter. The swarming Hornet defense also held the Longhorns to just 2.1 yards per carry.
Kirtland will host Beachwood next Friday, while Lutheran West will head to LaGrange to play Keystone.
More Week 2 scores
Saint Ignatius 26, Mentor 20 (3OT): In another instant classic, the Wildcats (1-0) began Chuck Kyle's 40th and final season by holding of a furious Cardinals (1-1) comeback. Junior Sean Martin scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner from 20 yards out.
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Avon 43, Medina 42: An insane back-and-forth matchup saw Battling Bees (1-1) quarterback Danny Stoddard throw for 620 yards and six touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough as Jakorion Caffey tallied 298 yards on the ground and the eventual game-winning score for the Eagles (2-0).
Massillon Washington 35, Plain GlenOak 7: The Tigers (1-1) overcame a tough Week 1 defeat by running past their Stark County rivals in the Golden Eagles (1-1). Willtrell Hartson made up for two fumbles by scoring three touchdowns on the ground.