The 2026 Kirtland football team, nicknamed the Murder Hornets, enters the season with a combined 60‑2 record since the players first joined forces in seventh grade, a streak that includes a perfect 15‑0 junior high campaign and a 45‑2 varsity mark over the past four years.
A Senior Class Built on Experience
Seventeen members of the senior class have been together since seventh grade, forming the core of a unit that boasts All‑Ohioan defenders such as Sebastian Becker and Zander Perko, as well as returning offensive linemen Lucci Cantini and Vince Prusock, who have started more than 120 games combined.
At quarterback, Ben Loncar will take the snap, stepping into the role vacated by Jake LaVerde, who moved on to Penn State after graduation.
Chasing a Third Championship
The Hornets will test their mettle in the CVC Valley, facing traditional rivals Poland and Perry, while also confronting tougher opponents like South Range and Hillsdale. With high expectations and a defensive unit that emphasizes physicality and teamwork, the team hopes to add a third state title to its storied history, a goal that has driven the program for years.