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Preview: Turpin at #4 Anderson

Anderson TE Caden Piening (photo by: Kelsey Rebman / TriStateFootball.com)

The Blitz 5 Game of the Week takes us out to the east side for the battle of Forest Hills. Host Anderson looks unstoppable and aims for its first undefeated regular season since 2009.

Visiting Turpin would love nothing more than to ruin their rival Raptors aspirations. It won’t be easy though, the Spartans have dropped the last four in the series by an average of 24.7 points. The Turpin seniors were in seventh grade the last time the school was victorious against Anderson.

TURPIN SPARTANS (2-4, 2-3) at #4 ANDERSON RAPTORS (6-0, 5-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Brown Stadium
Follow on X @TSFootball

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Quarterback Devan Nigam is the centerpiece of the Turpin offense. The senior has thrown for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdown tosses. He is averaging 34.8 pass attempts per game. Receivers Max Heis, Mickey Abbatiello and Evan Olverholser have combined for 83 receptions, 1,001 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. Linebacker Brody Nickerson is playing at an all-state level with 50 tackles, six sacks, nine-and-a-half tackles for losses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Anderson backfield has a potent one-two punch. Senior quarterback Justice Burnam has thrown for 1,718 yards, ran for 254 yards and accounted for 26 touchdowns (21 pass, five rush). His career numbers stand at 6,058 yards passing, 885 yards rushing, 64 passing touchdowns with 12 rushing scores and counting. Transfer Durrell Turner (from Simon Kenton) has fit right in with his new team. Turner has been a touchdown machine with 23 (22 rush) in his last 16 games. He also has 1,757 yards rushing in that span.

The Raptors receiving core is also pretty special. Trace Jallick has had 100 yards or more and at least one touchdown receiving in every game this season and in seven consecutive contests overall. The senior has had at least eight receptions in the last five games and is six receptions away from becoming the 26th player in Ohio history with 200 receptions. Nine of Aiden McClanahan’s 35 receptions have gone for touchdowns. Tight end Caden Piening, a Central Florida commit has 63 receptions for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.

There may not be a defense in Cincinnati with a better pair of sophomores than Anderson linebacker Antwoine Higgins and defensive back Ace Alston. Both players have offers that include Arkansas, Boston College, Bowling Green, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Tennessee, Toledo, West Virginia and Wisconsin as well as other individual offers.

TEAM TRENDS: Turpin only has three rushing touchdowns (13 passing). Take out quarterback Nigam’s team high, 233 yards on 30 carries (7.7 yds/car) with a touchdown and the rest of the team has run for just 307 yards on 122 totes (2.5 yds/car) with a pair of scores.
The defense has been a pleasant surprise for Anderson. The Raptors have yielded just 26 points all season. No one has scored more than seven points on them and they have two shutouts in the last four weeks.

Twelve players have found the end zone (six three times or more) for Anderson. The Raptors are averaging 51.0 points, 462.0 yards of total offense and 7.0 offensive touchdowns per game. They have a 46.7 point average margin of victory. The dominance doesn’t stop there. Anderson has outscored its foes, 230-13 (38.3 to 2.2) in the first half.

HEAD COACHES:
Turpin: Bryan Walker (5-12 at Turpin, second year; 23-9 overall,43-35 overall, eighth year)

Anderson: Evan Dreyer (76-27 at Anderson, ninth year; 120-54 overall, 16th year)

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

Anderson (17 appearances, 25-16) – 2023 (Regional Champion), 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2009, 2008 (State Runner-up), 2007 (State Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1994, 1992

TURPIN’S KEYS TO VICTORY: The offense has to stay on the field as much as possible. Alleviating opportunities for the Anderson offense is a must. The Spartans defense and special teams are going to have to come up with multiple big plays in each half. This is a game where smarts and discipline will play a large role in Turpin’s success.

ANDERSON’S KEYS TO VICTORY: Jump out to a quick two score lead or more and force Nigam to throw early and often. Taking the run game away and making Turpin one-dimensional also means containing Nigam’s ability to scramble for yards. Accomplish that and the secondary will have the opportunities to make the plays to get the Raptors offense onto the field as many times as possible..

Prediction: Anderson 56,  Turpin 7

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Written By: Greg Shoemaker / TriStateFootball.com 

Date provided: October 1, 2024

Photo: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fckdz41py2gzqovhcyp6q/Caden-Piening-Anderson-615×475.jpeg?rlkey=okrp056qx3gcyx5mmgzl0adl0&st=cr5a6g99&dl=0 

Photo Caption: Anderson senior Caden Piening

Photo By: Kelsey Rebman / TriStateFootball.com

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