Kirtland’s balance presents challenge to Rebels

November 18, 2011 at 12:03a.m.

NEW WATERFORD

Crestview’s postseason run in 2010 was short-circuited by a 26-20 overtime loss to Creston Norwayne in a Division V opening round game.

But by moving up to Div. IV, Norwayne is Girard’s worry this weekend.

That leaves Crestview playing unbeaten Kirtland tonight at Mollenkopf Stadium.

The 12-0 Hornets, the top-seeded team in Region 17, pose a new problem for Crestview (11-1), the No. 3 seed.

The teams aren’t foreign to each other; however, because they met in 2008 when Kirtland won, 41-13, to finish the Rebels’ season in a regional semifinal.

“They were very balanced,” said Crestview coach Paul Cusick in recalling Kirtland’s run-pass mix that year when his current seniors were freshmen.

“They’re a little different now, though,” he said of the power running offense led by bullish fullback Christian Hauber and swift and shifty running back Damon Washington.

The pair has each run for more than 1,275 yards and Hauber, a senior, received a handful of Division I college offers before accepting a scholarship to Air Force.

“They like to run Hauber between the tackles, while Washington is a perimeter guy, so they can hit you inside or out,” said Cusick, whose team is making a first-time regional championship game appearance.

A rushing tandem as powerful as that of the Hornets is indeed a reason they are undefeated, but coach Philip “Tiger” LaVerde prides it on a defense that has recorded four shutouts and allows a miniscule seven points per game.

“They’re entirely disciplined,” LaVerde said of the Hornets defense. “It’s a different personality that we’ve been used to in the past because our defense is solid on their assignments; that’s been the reason we’ve won.”

Up front, Kirtland sports defensive end Tim Blankenship and defensive tackle Cannon Scroeder. They each were involved in three sacks last week in the Hornets 52-7 beatdown of Sugarcreek Garaway.

If Crestview quarterback Adam Coppock decides to throw the ball deep, he’ll be eyed down by safety Rossi Santo who has five interceptions.

Conversely, Kirtland’s Scott Eilerman is not afraid to gun a ball or two as he’s compiled 938 yards through the air, while completing 47.7 percent of his passes. Santo and Washington are the top two receivers and have 341 and 329, respectively.

“Basically, it [the outcome] will depend on which offensive and defensive lines play the best,” Cusick said.