Prep football: Bay Area running back sets a section record after 413-yard day

Mt. Diablo running back Herschel Turner closes in on 3,000 rushing yards

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

According to the Cal-Hi Sports record book, Turner now has 2,957 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns on 161 carries, breaking the previous regular-season record of 2,623 set by Salesian’s Jahvid Best in 2006.

Olito Thompson of Concord set the combined regular and postseason record with 3,488 yards rushing in 2011.

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

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

Mua said he knew Turner was in for a big day after an 80-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was called back due to 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 told ESPN.

Mt. Diablo improved to 7-3 with the victory.

With the exception of one game, Turner has rushed for at least 200 yards and four touchdowns. He carried three times for 124 yards and three touchdowns as Mt. Diablo defeated Ygnacio Valley 49-22.

Turner’s previous season high came in a 39-28 victory over Deer Valley, when he rushed for 377 yards and six touchdowns.

Turner is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports, with offers from Utah, Air Force, Yale, and other schools.