Mt. Diablo running back Hershel Turner ended Saturday on top of the North Coast Section record books after running for 413 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries in a 55-40 victory over Berean Christian.

The total gives Turner 2,957 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns on 161 carries, moving the senior past the previous regular-season record of 2,623 set by Salesian’s Jahvid Best in 2006, according to the Cal-Hi Sports record book.

Olito Thompson of Concord rushed for 3,488 yards counting playoffs in 2011, setting the combined regular and postseason record.

Mt. Diablo coach Fetuao Mua told the Bay Area News Group on Saturday night that the team had a statistician keep track of Turner’s numbers Saturday.

“He was 200 yards away from the NCS record, and he got that in the second quarter,”  Mua said. “He was so anxious, and I told him to relax, and let the game come to him.”

Mua said he knew Turner was primed for a big day after a second-quarter 80-yard touchdown got called back because of a penalty. 

“Herschel will usually come off the field after a big run, but he was like, ‘No coach, let’s keep it going,’ and that’s when I knew it was going to be a good day for him,” Mua said.  

The win improved Mt. Diablo to 7-3.

Turner has rushed for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns in all but one game. When Mt. Diablo beat Ygnacio Valley 49-22, he carried three times for 124 yards and three touchdowns.

Turner’s previous season-high had come in the season-opening 39-28 victory against Deer Valley when he rushed for 377 yards and six touchdowns. 

A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, Turner has offers from Utah, Air Force, Yale and several other schools.

Source: www.mercurynews.com