By John Bassetti

He has to prepare for Ursuline and take care of four children at home.

KIRTLAND — Coach Phillip “Tiger” LaVerde has his hands full this week.

No, not with Ursuline, but with his family.

When LaVerde, the Kirtland High football coach, gets home after practice, he’s swamped with the demands of a wife and children ages 1, 2, 4 and 5.

He can’t escape crying babies, sticky fingers and tugs at his pantlegs.

Facing Ursuline might be easier.

The 35-year-old LaVerde is quick to admit that Kirtland hasn’t played as difficult a schedule as Ursuline, but the Hornets’ success under LaVerde isn’t to be underestimated, either.

Since LaVerde arrived three years ago, Kirtland has made a post-season appearance every season.

The Hornets lost playoff openers in 2006 and 2007, but hadn’t won a playoff game until a few weeks ago when LaVerde’s squad defeated South Range, 63-7.

Kirtland’s previous playoff years — and subsequent first-round losses — were in 1990 and 1998.

This was also Kirtland’s first unbeaten regular season at 10-0, although the school went 9-0-1 in 1972.

Come Saturday night at Warren’s Mollenkopf Stadium, it’ll be a battle of 12-0 teams.

“We’re solid all-around,” said LaVerde, “but, defensively, we haven’t given up more than a touchdown with our first-team defense.”

In the regular season, senior quarterback Ben Madden (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) completed 61-of-109 passes for 1,324 yards and 18 touchdowns. He threw only two interceptions.

“We run, but not a ton,” LaVerde said of his ground game that consists of leading rusher Rossi Santo and Royal Brettrager.

The 5-9, 160 Santo, a senior, has 529 yards on 82 carries, while Brettrager, a junior, has 416 yards on 74 attempts.

Kirtland’s top receiver is 5-9, 150 Dominic Samf, who averages 22 yards a catch.

In Kirtland’s most recent game, a 41-13 win over Crestview last Saturday, Samf caught two TD passes from Madden.

Santo is the leading scorer with 15 touchdowns (12 rush, 3 receiving), while kicker Ethan Lyon has made 51-of-52 PATs.

The offensive line’s strength is rooted in guards Skyler Chappell (6-0, 275), Spensir Chappell (6-0, 225), center Kyle Smith (6-2, 220) and tight end Anthony Ritossa (6-3, 210).

The Chappell twins and Andrew Pisorn (6-4, 305, senior). anchor the line in a 4-4 defense that includes Madden, Clay Davis (5-11, 200) and Ritossa at linebacker and Samf and Santo at the corners.

Another player going both ways is RB/LB Neil Perko.

Kirtland’s offense has rolled up 4,157 yards, while its defense has allowed 2,087. The Hornets are scoring an average of 43.7 points, but only giving up 10.8 per game.

The Chappell twins are among the core of players who have been starting since their sophomore seasons.

“My first year — three years ago, we started a bunch of sophomores, so they are the strength of the team,” LaVerde said.

Kirtland is situated in Lake County and the Hornets are a member of the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Valley Division.

Crossover games this season were against Cuyahoga Heights, Independence and Richmond Heights.

Kirtland’s lone common opponent with Ursuline is Cuyahoga Heights, a team the Irish beat, 27-7, in the Region 17 opening round.

Only four of Kirtland’s opponents had winning records: Cuyahoga Heights (9-1), Berkshire (7-3), Cardinal (6-4) and Richmond Heights (6-4).

The first head coaching stint for LaVerde, a graduate of Oil City (Pa.) High, was at Franklin (Pa.) for three years.

bassetti@vindy.com