JASON EPP
• Leader & Times
TURPIN, Okla.—Big plays on defense and special teams helped the Turpin Cardinals overcome a sluggish start on their way to a 52-6, mercy-rule victory over the Waurika Eagles in the first round of the Class B1 playoffs.
The Waurika Eagles opened the game with a long, time-consuming drive that started at their 30. The Turpin defense was finally able to buckle down and get the stop they needed on fourth down at the Turpin two-yard line.
The Cardinal offense was then able to move the ball into Eagle territory, but a fumble by Ryder Ireland ended the drive at the Waurika 22. But Ireland answered back on special teams in a big way. After the Turpin defense forced a punt after three downs, Ireland blocked the punt, scooped up the loose ball and took it into the endzone for the game’s first points with 2:55 left in the first quarter.
The defense came up with another big play on Waurika’s ensuing drive when Elijah Garcia intercepted a pass and set the Cardinal offense up in Eagle territory. Garcia then made the big play on offense, scoring on an 18-yard reverse that put Turpin up 16-0 with 1:06 left in the first quarter.
Waurika tightened up the game with a five-minute touchdown drive to make the score 16-6 with 8:14 left in the half. Turpin was able to answer and led 24-6 at the half.
“I felt like we didn’t come out with as much intensity as we needed,” Cardinal Head Coach Hannah said. “They moved the ball on us way too much in the first half, but we really responded and played a whole lot better defensively in the second half. We had big plays, but they controlled the clock way too much with some long drives. We needed to be a lot more physical, and we were in the second half. I’m proud of how they responded.”
Turpin scored three times in the third to extend their lead to 46-6 despite throwing an interception and having a punt blocked after a high snap. The key, the defense did not allow a first down the entire quarter.
Carson Peters then hit Ireland on a crossing pattern from 25 yards out to end the game by mercy rule, 52-6 with 9:37 still on the clock.
Turpin racked up 455 yards of offense on 38 plays and held Waurika to 197. Turpin rushed for 334 yards and five touchdowns on just 23 carries and passed for 121 yards and a touchdown while completing 11 of 15 passes.
Jhett Huffman ran for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Huffman also caught four passes for 26 yards. Carson Peters ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and threw for 121 yards. Ryder Ireland caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Elijah Garcia had three touches for 34 yards and a touchdown, and Riley Fowler had five touches for 64 yards.
Defensively, Riley Fowler led the team with 16 tackles, two for loss; Jaxon Lenhert had 12 tackles, including one for loss and three sacks, Ryder Ireland had seven tackles including a sack, Elijah Garcia had 11 tackles and an interception.
No.4 Turpin (9-1) will make a five-hour drive to take on No.3 Dewar (10-1) in the quarterfinals.
“Huge road challenge against a very good team”, Hannah said. “We’ll have to play much better to move on to next week.”
