South Pike freshman quarterback Dontavious Turner was forced into action when last year’s starter senior Bobbieal Ellzey was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Turner has the Eagles off to a 2-0 start under new head coach Brinson Wall.
Turner had 19 carries for 142 yards and four touchdowns in the Eagles’ 40-34 home win against Franklin County last week. He broke a 34-34 tie with the game-winning touchdown from about 10 yards out with 42 seconds remaining, capping a three-play, 40-yard drive. His efforts earned him the Enterprise-Journal’s Player of the Week.
“It was a big old moment for me,” he said of his game-winning touchdown. “I told the team when I was on the sidelines that I had them. I went down and I punched it in the end zone. I felt like that was a big momentum for us.”
The head coach had all praise for his quarterback.
“He’s done exactly what we’ve asked him to do,” Wall said. “He’s been careful with the football, and he’s made the plays that we ask him to make. We will need him to continue to do that in order for us to be successful.”
Turner, 14, has been playing quarterback since he was 9 as a member of the Magnolia Hurricanes in peewee football. He was also a quarterback for the Eagles in junior high, but acknowledged the position was very different in high school.
“It’s bigger players,” he said. “I’m 14, and I’m facing 18-year-olds. You’ve got to know how to read the defense, run your plays, and you’ve got to know what you’re doing.”
Turner has also played safety and cornerback in the past, but for now he is just a quarterback.
While Turner excelled at the running game at the quarterback position, he was just 2 of 5 passing for 40 yards. However, he expects to throw the ball more in the future.
“I learned (from the first two games) that I always can’t run,” he said. “I’ve got to pass some. I learned how to read the defense a little bit.”
Wall said defenses will make the Eagles throw the football and Turner will have to pass more in the future. He added South Pike also has to improve at pass blocking and at the receiver positions.
“I would like for the game to slow down to him,” Wall said. “Everything seems to be happening really fast for him. I’d like to see him just be a little more patient at times and take what the defense gives us and not force the issues so much.”
Turner, 5 feet, 7 inches, 145 pounds, is still growing and said his ideal height is 6-2 and he has his sights set on weighing 215 pounds.
South Pike has not been to the playoffs since 2011, and Turner is one of six freshmen starting this season, as the Eagles are looking to turn things around.
“The difference is the players are stepping up and playing,” he said. “Last year they weren’t really playing. When they first started (this year), they weren’t really caring, but now they started seeing we can win. Now they’re starting to care. They’re starting to step up.
“If we all stick together, we’ll see championships in three or four more years.”
Turner also credited his teammates with making things easier for him on offense.
“I thank the offensive line for blocking and giving me plays to run,” he said.
The Eagles travel to Amite County (0-2) at 7 p.m. Friday and are off in Week 4. Turner said he would like to go into the bye on a good note.
“We have go to practice, do what the coach says, study the plays and be on the right track,” he said. “We should be able to come out with a ‘W.’ ”
Turner is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dondra Turner of Magnolia.
