GROVE CITY — After two seasons and three wins, A.J. Turner and his Grove City High football team needed something to change.

Turner, a senior tight end and linebacker, started with himself.

“I knew last year I was kind of immature,” Turner said. “I had a quick fuse and I’d take myself out of the game. This year, I realized this is bigger than me. I realized we had to play as a team and not as a bunch of individuals.”

Turner was a part of a leadership council of players formed by Grove City head football coach Sam Mowrey and his staff.

Turner said that helped him mature.

He was also a workout fiend.

What resulted was not only his resurgence, but a team one as well.

Turner caught 45 passes for 1,011 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Eagles went 10-2 and reached the District 10 5A title game.

“From his junior year, we knew A.J. had a lot of talent,” Mowrey said. “We also knew A.J. didn’t know that, if you know what I mean. He needed that confidence that we could dominate games. The work he put in — I don’t know if he missed a workout for two seasons. He was always there no matter what.”

Turner parlayed that into a commitment to Edinboro University.

Turner said Edinboro was always at the top of his list. A visit there and attendance at the Scots’ year-end banquet sealed the deal.

“The environment was really special,” Turner said. “I loved it. I knew it was the place I wanted to be and I loved what it was all about.”

Turner also received a lot of interest from Indiana (Pa.) University as well as Division III Geneva College.

Edinboro sees Turner as an impact tight end.

“I think it’s a very good fit for him at Edinboro,” Mowrey said.

Turner’s senior season is what put him on the recruiting map.

Turner and senior quarterback Kameron Patterson, who also had a huge senior year with 2,671 yards passing and 32 touchdowns, worked after workouts and practice to build their chemistry and timing.

That in part led to Turner’s 1,000-yard receiving season — something he never envisioned at the start of the year, but strived for as it become closer and closer to his reach.

“It really did mean a lot to me,” Turner said. “It showed all the work my team and I put in paid off. I knew it would be a nice asset for me if I could do it. When I was getting close, it was in the back of my mind.”

What Turner was most proud of, however, was the team’s turnaround after some lean years.

And lots of frustration.

“We had a goal of putting Grove City football back on the map,” Turner said. “We knew we were better than what we put out there the last few seasons. I’m glad we were able to prove it.”