The Turpin Spartans opened the 2026 football season with a 31-10 loss to Archbishop McNicholas at Penn Station Stadium on Friday, Aug. 21.
A rough start set the tone. On the first play from scrimmage, McNicholas defensive back Jack McGhee intercepted a Turpin pass at the Spartans' 30-yard line. Rockets kicker Bobo Iliev converted the short field into a 40-yard field goal, his first career make, and McNicholas led 3-0 just 1:42 into the game.
The Rockets kept pushing. Sophomore running back Tyler Richardson capped a 63-yard, 10-play drive with his first career rushing touchdown, and Turpin trailed 10-0 before the first quarter ended.
The Spartans answered with a field goal early in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 10-3, but McNicholas scored again before halftime to take a 17-3 lead into the break.
The third quarter belonged entirely to the Rockets. McNicholas marched 66 yards in 12 plays, chewing 8:11 off the clock behind what McNicholas Athletics posted on X as "a steady dose of Reuss and Richardson behind the OLine." That made it 24-3.
Turpin quarterback Will Schmittauer provided the Spartans' lone touchdown. With 7:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Schmittauer scrambled left and found the end zone on a rushing score, pulling Turpin within 24-10, according to the Turpin Spartans athletics account on X.
McNicholas answered with a late touchdown to seal the 31-10 final. WLWT named the Rockets' victory its "Big Win of the Week" for Week 1.
The Spartans look to rebound at their home opener Friday, Aug. 28, against Little Miami.
