Turner key to CWNC backfield
CRANBERRY TWP — Jerome Turner lugged the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy with him back to class after receiving it Tuesday afternoon.
Turner, a senior running back, didn't want to flaunt his accomplishment. He just wanted to show his classmates that had teased him when he was called to the office he wasn't in any kind of trouble.
Turner — a 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior running back/safety — scored 140 regular-season points (22 touchdowns, four two-point conversions) to become the first player from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic to win the trophy.
Turner finished second on the team with 1,083 yards rushing as the Trojans went 11-1 and lost in the WPIAL Class A semifinals.
During the previous summer and winter, Turner said everyone worked hard to get ready to try and defend the school's first WPIAL and PIAA title.
“We knew that everybody was going to be after us and we had to train harder to be better,” Turner said. “You can't stay at the same level and keep up with the competition.”
Turner worked out with DeWayne Brown at speed workouts and at camps at Duquesne and the University of Pittsburgh to prepare.
With Turner, who also rushed for 1,000 yards and scored 24 touchdowns his junior year, fellow senior running back P.J. Fulmore and sophomore Mario Latronica, the Trojans had a deadly rushing attack.
“I feel like I'm pretty even rounded,” Turner said. “I have some speed. We have speed training and I feel like I was rounded a little bit of everything.”
Fulmore also finished with 1,506 yards and Latronica ended up with 772.
North Catholic coach Bob Ravenstahl said having a stable of running backs opened things up.
“We could rest P.J. or Jerome at either point or time,” Ravenstahl said. “Jerome is a power runner. He's quick, don't get me wrong, but he doesn't try to run around you. He runs over you. He's a power runner with speed.”
Developing that power is something Turner worked hard at.
“He may be one of the strongest guys on the team, leg-wise,” Trojans offensive coordinator Chris Lucas said. “He was squatting 415 (pounds) three or four times and no one else has that.”
Turner enjoyed playing on defense just as much.
Against Chartiers-Houston, he returned an interception 30 yards for a score.During the playoffs, Turner suffered a shoulder injury against Avella and was held out of the next game. He did get to play in the Trojans' 28-21 loss to Avonworth in the semifinals.
“It was an amazing trip,” Turner said. “I'm not sure how to describe it.”
Turner hopes to play football in college. He hasn't been offered yet, but would like to study business or pharmacy.
“I'm surprised (he hasn't been offered),” Lucas said. “Sometimes I don't know what colleges are looking for. He'll play somewhere, we'll get his film out there and we're confident he'll end up somewhere in the next few months.”
Year Winner (School) Points1990 Brian Kurn (Freport) 1041991 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 1141992 Ron DeJidas (Freeport) 1581993 Rick Belles (Karns City) 801994 Cory Hooks (Union) 1181995 Jeremy Scherer (KC) 841996 Jason Hackwelder (A-C) 1321997 Steve Spiker (A-C Valley) 1241998 Mike Leach (A-C Valley) 1461999 Mike Leach (A-C Valley) 1982000 Josh Niess (SRHS) 1922001 Bill Graham (Karns City) 1862002 Matt Carnahan (KC) 1522003 Josh Fiscus (Karns City) 116Travis Sarver (SRHS) 1162004 Josh Fiscus (Karns City 1162005 Paul Ferrese (Mars) 962006 Bill Bair (Mars) 1502007 Bill Bair (Mars) 2042008 Jono Powell (SRHS) 1022009 James Shope (Moniteau) 1362010 Wes Phipps (Grove City) 1142011 Wes Phipps (Grove City) 1442012 Forrest Barnes (SV) 1522013 Josh Schultheis (Mars) 1322014 Jerome Turner (CWNC) 140
