2024 Video Snapshot: Tippecanoe
- Updated: April 4, 2024
It’s a great time to be a Tippecanoe football fan. In the last three seasons the Red Devils have been regional champions once and in the regional semifinals on two other occasions. The program is now reloading on a yearly basis. It’s all about the “next man up” and “your time has come” for head coach Matt Burgbacher’s new cast of hungry and ready to prove themselves players. Burgbacher and his staff get to challenge the kids to raise the bar higher than those who came before them and that is a great position to be in, for everyone.
Division III, Region 12
2023 RECORD: 10-3, 8-1 MVL Miami Division
COACH: Matt Burgbacher (44-16 at Tippecanoe, five years; 125-49 overall; 15 years)
HONOR ROLL
Jackson Davis, Sr, WR/RS – The coaching staff has the not so terrible quandary of figuring out how many ways and how many times they can get the ball into the hands of play-making Davis on Friday nights. A First Team All-MVL (RET) selection as a junior Davis reeled in 28 receptions for 375 yards and three touchdowns. He also averaged 25.8 yards on 12 kickoff return yards.
OTHER RETURNEES
Logan Butera, Sr, QB/RB – Whether it is at quarterback or running back, all signs point to Butera busting out. He ran for 384 yards and three scores as a junior, including 100 yards in Week 10 against Xenia followed up by a career high 116 yards rushing versus Western Brown in the first round of the playoffs.
Rylan Caldwell, Sr, RB – A healthy Caldwell will get his fair share of opportunities to run the ball. In 12 varsity games, over two seasons, he has 288 yards and one touchdown rushing.
Carson Hughes, Sr, RB – Like Caldwell, this is “Seize the Day” time for Hughes. Along with classmates Caldwell and Butera this could be a very entertaining three-headed monster to watch out of the Tipp backfield.
Will Strong, Jr, WR/RS – A solid varsity debut saw Strong reel in 16 catches for a modest 103 yards receiving. More explosiveness is on the way. Look for Strong to be one of the Red Devils top big-play threats.
Bryson Singleton, Sr, OL – A returning starter on an offensive line that helped pave the way for the Red Devils to rack up 334.0 yards of total offense per game in 2023.
Alex Shellhammer, Sr, OL – A returning member of a group up front that helped a balanced Tipp offense find the end zone 55 times (31 rush, 24 pass), a year ago.
Ian Bickert, Sr, OL – Teams with classmates Singleton and Shellhammer to bring stability and leadership along the o-line.
Chris Preece, Sr, DL – Who says size matters? The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Preece, flat out, gets it done. His game is a great compliment to Martin on the Tipp d-line. Preece recorded 43 total tackles, four tackles for losses and one forced fumble as a junior.
Jeffrey Martin, Jr, DT – The sky is the limit for 6-foot-4, 275-pound Martin who will be one of the best d-linemen in the MVL over the next two seasons. He recorded 15 total tackles and recovered a fumble in 2023.
Gavin Newburg, Sr, LB – The leader of the Tipp defense. Newburg, who comes from great football pedigree, has all-state potential. He tallied 55 total tackles, had three tackles for losses and forced fumble last fall.
Tippecanoe LB’s Gavin Newburg (21) & Collin Isaac (photo from X: @tippfb)
Collin Isaac, Jr, LB – The upside is tremendous for Isaac who is the Red Devils top returning tackler. He had a breakout campaign with 72 total tackles, a sack and three-and-a-half sacks in 2023. Isaac was a wrestling state qualifier in the 150-pound weight class as a sophomore.
Ethan Couch, Sr, OLB – Teams with Isaacs and Newburg, making the linebacking core one the Red Devils strengths. Couch was in on 28 total tackles, had two-and-a-half tackles for losses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a junior.
Riley Nicholls, Sr, S – Brings much-welcomed experience and leadership to the secondary. Nicholls gets his shot at being a ballhawk.
C.J. Bailey, Jr, K – Bailey is a real asset on special teams. He connected on 23/28 extra points and 3/4 field goals (long of 37-yards) for 32 kicking points as a sophomore. A standout on the basketball court, the athletic Bailey could also make an impact on offense and defense, as well.
NEWCOMERS
Larkin Thomas, So, QB – Will battle Butera for the starting quarterback spot. Thomas has the physical tools and mental make-up to be a very good signal-caller in this league over the next three seasons.
Xavier Melton, Jr, RB – There should be enough carries to go around out of the backfield for Melton to make his presence felt. He ran for his first varsity touchdown last season versus Greenville.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(17 appearances, 16-17) – 2023, 2022 (Regional Champion), 2021, 2020, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2002
2024 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/23/24 – BELLBROOK (8-4 in 2023) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/30/24 – FAIRBORN (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/06/24 – at Greenville (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/13/24 – PIQUA (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/20/24 – at Troy (11-2) – 7:00 PM
Th – 09/26/24 – BUTLER (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/04/24 – at Sidney (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/11/24 – at West Carrollton (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/18/24 – STEBBINS (4-7) at Fairborn (2-8) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/25/24 – at Xenia (5-6) – 7:00 PM
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