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Preview: Turpin at Winton Woods

Winton Woods QB MiChale Wingfield (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

A share of the ECC title is on the line as No. 5 Winton Woods looks to unseat No. 12 Turpin in this week’s Blitz 5 Game of the Week. The visiting Spartans are the reigning league champions. Defending the crown is not going to be a walk in the park. The Warriors are focused on making their own history. They will be playing with a heightened passion.

Turpin has won three titles outright (2012, ’16, ’19) and shared another with Kings (’15), in the eight years that the ECC has been in existence. During that same period Winton Woods played as an independent. The Warriors are looking for their first conference championship since 2011. 

The winner of this affair will probably share the crown with Kings. If the Knights beat Loveland they will finish 4-0 in the conference. Kings did not face Turpin or Winton Woods in this shortened regular season. That won’t diminish any of the bragging rights from winning this contest. Chest thumping will be well-deserved for the victors.

#12 TURPIN SPARTANS (4-0, 4-0) at #5 WINTON WOODS WARRIORS (5-0, 4-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Charlie Fredrick Stadium
Follow on Twitter @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: In his first season as a starter, Turpin junior QB Will Schulok has been sensational with 1,107 yards and 16 touchdowns passing. He has thrown just one interception. His top targets are seniors RB/WR Kaidan Naughton, WR Logan Hurley and WR Max Gundrum. Hurley and Gundrum have combined to catch 39 balls for 781 yards (20.1/rec) and 12 touchdowns (six each). Naughton is a dual threat out of the backfield. He has amassed 627 yards from scrimmage (420 rush, 207 rec) with eight trips to the end zone (five rushing, three receiving).

The Winton Woods’ defense is led by seniors DE/OLB Andrew “Bam” Booker, DB Caleb Tubbs, DB Tamarion Crumpley and LB Cam Sanders. Booker has verbally committed to Maryland, where he will join his brother “Tank.” Tubbs is a Miami (OH) commit and Crumpley’s offers include Boston College, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami (OH), Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio, Pitt, Purdue, Toledo and Wake Forest. Booker has returned two fumbles for touchdowns. Crumpley has two interceptions giving him six for his career.

TEAM TRENDS: Turpin has won 14 straight regular-season games. The combined record of the four teams that the Spartans have beaten is 5-13. The combined record of the five teams that Winton Woods has taken down is 9-14.

Turpin spreads the wealth around on offense. The Spartans are averaging 444.5 yards of total offense per game with 23 touchdowns. 

Winton Woods is allowing just 12.0 points per game. The Warriors have been great against the run holding opponents to just 68.4 yards rushing per game. They are only giving up 182.2 yards of total offense per contest. On offense, Winton Woods has 16 rushing touchdowns of which eight have been of 25 yards or longer (seven of 43-plus yards).

TURPIN’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The Spartans will look for chinks in the Warriors’ armor and exploit them early and often. Senior leadership must keep teammates calm if Winton Woods starts getting some momentum going. Turpin can’t afford to give up big plays rushing, on special teams and to the Warriors’ defense. Keeping mistakes to a minimum in all phases of the game is a top priority

WINTON WOODS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: Showcasing team speed is when this squad is at its best. That should not change in this tilt. The Warriors have put the dagger in foes with explosive, spirit-deflating plays. If Winton Woods can avoid sloppiness (penalty flags) Turpin will have its hands full.

Prediction: Winton Woods 33, Turpin 14

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