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2024 Snapshot: Turpin

Turpin WR Evan Overholser (photo from X: @TurpinFootball)

Up until the beginning of the 2022 season winning had become a way of life for Turpin football in the 21st century up. The Spartans have struggled over the past two years with just four total victories (4-17). From 2003-21, program went 150-59 (.718 winning %), averaging 7.8 wins a season with 12 playoff appearances in that 19-year span. The Spartans are now find themselves in a fight to avoid having three straight losing campaigns for the first time since 2000-02.

Much of what ailed Turpin in 2023 can be remedied. This will be year number two for the players in head coach Bryan Walker’s offensive and defensive schemes. Walker and his staff were late hires and had to give the team a crash course in the implementation of what they were working to accomplish. Focus and effort will cure the Spartans other ills. Untimely penalties and the offensive lines constant battles with keeping the pocket from collapsing too fast. Give quarterback Devan Nigam those extra seconds to operate and Turpin will find itself in every game, this fall.

Walker has built success as a head coach but he has the unenviable task of making his Spartans a factor in an ECC that is loaded with teams that are hungry, have depth, proven players with winning pedigree and college talent. For Turpin to get back to that level, one that they were on for such a long period of time, it will take an “all for one, one for all” effort and we expect Walker will find a way to get that out of his squad.

Division II, Region 8
2023 RECORD: 3-8, 2-7 ECC
COACH: Bryan Walker (3-8 at Turpin, second year, 41-31 overall, seven years)

HONOR ROLL
Evan Overholser, Jr, WR – Was hitting his stride when injuries ended his sophomore season. In seven games, Overholser had 44 receptions for 716 yards and five touchdowns. He had more than 110 yards receiving in each of his final three games and did his best work in that span with 25 receptions for 432 yards and four scores. Overholser was named OPSWA Division II Honorable Mention All-Southwest District for his efforts.

Brody Nickerson, Jr, LB – Will be the heart-and-soul of the Turpin defense over the next two seasons. Nickerson was named Honorable Mention All-ECC as a sophomore after recording 76 total tackles, with seven tackles for losses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Turpin LB Brody Nickerson (photo from X: @TurpinFootball)

OTHER RETURNEES
Devan Nigam, Sr, QB – Just how good was Nigam in 2023? He was sacked 41.5 times, yet he still set the school record for passing yards in a season (2,783) and in a game (417 vs. Little Miami). Nigam also ran for 222 yards and accounted for 21 touchdowns (18 pass, three rush). At 6-foot-5 and 220-pounds with a strong arm and the ability to run, Nigam’s skill sets are very comparable to those of Drew Novak (Western Brown), the 2020 TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year. Nigam has thrown for 4,139 yards and 27 touchdowns in a Turpin uniform. He needs 2,141 yards passing to become the Spartans all-time leader in passing yards (6,279) and is just 304 yards from second place in school history.

Turpin RB Joey Gardner (25) & QB Devan Nigam (12)(photo from X: @TurpinFootball)

Joey Gardner, Sr, RB – Look for Gardner to vastly improve on the numbers he put up as a junior. He led the team with 433 yards rushing, with two touchdowns and six receptions for 90 yards. Gardner’s best two rushing performances (102 yards at Walnut Hills, 80 yards at Anderson in the playoffs) came in the last four weeks of 2023.

Ben Strasbaugh, Sr, OL – Will be called upon to provide leadership along the o-line. It is a unit that has plenty to prove in 2024.

Carson Stier, Sr, LB – A returning starter who is primed for a big senior campaign. Stier has 39 total tackles, two-and-a-half sacks and two fumbles in his career.

Turpin LB Carson Stier (photo from X: @TurpinFootball)

Mickey Abbatiello, Sr, WR – A reliable return man and excellent option as a receiver. Abbatiello heads into his senior campaign with 1,057 all-purpose yards, 44 receptions for 554 yards and two touchdown catches at the varsity level.

Addi Braun, Jr, K – A model of consistency for the Spartans over the past two seasons. Braun is on the cusp of becoming one of the top kickers in school history.  She enters her junior year having connected on 35/39 extra points and 7/9 field goal attempts for 56 points in her career.

NEWCOMERS
There is a buzz in the air about Nigam and his new target, sophomore WR/SS Ben Frye who has a very promising future at the varsity level. Frye caught 59 balls for 1,128 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Turpin J.V. team as a freshman.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(14 appearances, 12-14) – 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 (Regional Champion), 1995

2024 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/23/24 – at Oak Hills (5-6 in 2023) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/30/24 – LITTLE MIAMI (1-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/06/24 –  at Walnut Hills (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/13/24 – WINTON WOODS (8-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/20/24 – at Loveland (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/27/24 – WEST CLERMONT (4-7) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/04/24 – at Anderson (13-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/11/24 – LEBANON (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/18/24 – at Kings (6-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/25/24 – MILFORD (11-1) – 7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

 

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