The Turpin Cardinals are calling in reinforcements. After enduring a 1-9 injury plagued season in 2011, the Cardinals are re-tooling for the 2012 campaign with six starters returning at the Class A school. 

Last season the Cards finished the season with 16 proud football players with a boat load on the shelf due to injuries including pre-season all state running back and linebacker Matt Mendoza who is now playing football at Southwestern Oklahoma State. But this season there are 31 out for football including 14 freshmen and eight sophomores. 

Key returning THS players include senior fb/lb Jake Jimenez; senior wr/olb Mathew Gross; sophomore rb/olb Will Enriquez; senior lineman Luis Pureco; senior lineman Thomas Kuns; senior lineman Alan Guteiez; senior tight end Trae Watson; sophomore qb Kyler Musgrave; and senior lineman Shawn Bridenstine. But Turpin fully expects to play some of their freshmen at the varsity level this morning.

The Cardinals have been on both sides of the spectrum recently under seventh year head coach Mario Mendoza. Although the Cardinals were 1-9 last year, they are just two years removed from a 6-5 playoff season. They were 5-5 in 2009 and 7-4 in 2008. 

Schedule

August 31- at Elkhart

September 7- Booker

September 14- Shamrock

September 21- at Hooker

September 28- Fairview

October 5- at Okeene

October 12- at Texhoma

October 18- Oklahoma Bible Academy

October 26- at Mooreland

November 2- Beaver