David Bernauer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Shadow Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com. 

The Shadow Ridge football team is off to one of the best starts in school history at 4-1. With new coach Sean Hegarty, the Stallions are headlined by upperclassmen who have worked hard to “put the team on the map” as some have proclaimed. Halfway through the season, senior running back Jacob Thurman has stood out for his ability to gain yardage, averaging 8.4 per carry. As the Stallions work to make the playoffs, they’ll have an offensive weapon in Thurman.

Growing up, Thurman loved football. He started playing tackle football at age 7. Even then, it was clear to see who he’d become as he got older. During a youth league game, he helped an opposing player who had fallen get back on his feet, something most children would play through. His parents always had told him no matter how many touchdowns he scored, they always would be most proud of him for being a kind person.

“The biggest quality Jacob has is his work ethic,'' Hegarty said. "I see him working day in and day out."

Throughout his career, Thurman constantly has tried to find areas to improve.

“I’ve been doing backyard workouts, visualizing things before every game in my mind to get my vision down on the field so I know where I’m making my cuts and where I’m going,” Thurman said. “A lot of lifting, trying to get stronger, trying to get my legs stronger so I can power  through arm tackles and break tackles overall. Right now I feel like most of my life has been committed to it.”

His preparation is showing results with five touchdowns on the season, including a 20-yard rush where he dragged a Mountain Pointe defender the final 10 yards to reach the end zone.

“Just watching him, the way he holds himself accountable, holds his teammates accountable, and just really works hard at everything that he does, whether it's in the weight room or on the football field or in the classroom, in the community, he’s always put forth his best effort,” Hegarty said.

Off the field, Thurman has worked hard to improve in the classroom. His freshman year he didn’t receive the best grades and realized it would take more time and effort to raise his GPA.

“When people see me, they talk about my body or something like that,” Thurman said. “Sometimes people think I’m dumb, and mainly, I feel like I’ve been more insecure about my academics, which was a reason I wanted to improve them and show I’m not just this meat head. I wanted to show I’m also intelligent.”

Thurman retook classes and dedicated himself to his studies and football, and now looks forward to college. He has been accepted to NAU and has applied to The Citadel, the same military college his father attended.

While Thurman knows he’s talented, he also knows football can’t last forever. Following college, Thurman envisions himself serving his country. Unlike his father, he doesn’t want to become a pilot. The Navy and Marines are out of question because he doesn’t like being on the water. “No to Space Force,” he said with a chuckle. Being on land is a comfortable feeling, so he decided the Army was best for him with the goal of one day becoming an Army Ranger.

“As a mom it scares me a little, but proud is the main feeling,” Mandy Thurman said. “Not everybody has the heart to do that; not everybody is willing to sacrifice what military people have to sacrifice.”

Thurman's path hasn't been the smoothest. His 5-foot-10, 185-pound body has suffered a broken collarbone, a stress fracture in his right shin that kept him on crutches for three months, a broken hand and several shoulder dislocations, the most recent coming during Shadow Ridge’s Oct. 23 loss to Sandra Day O’Connor.

“My biggest obstacle would be all the injuries I’ve faced,” Thurman said. “I feel like it’s been extremely difficult getting through it, but every time I get through I feel stronger. I feel like I’ve gained more ability and become a better athlete going through those problems and overcoming them."

Before games, Thurman prays for himself, the Stallions and their opponent to avoid injury. This pregame ritual of praying for health may find its origins from when he was a child.

“Once when he was a little boy an ambulance went by with the lights on and blaring and he bowed his head,” Mandy Thurman said. “And I said to him, 'What are you doing?,’ and he said, ‘I’m praying for whoever was in that ambulance.’”

As frustrating and debilitating as it may have been to be on the sidelines, each time he’s returned from injury stronger. Excluding the contest where he dislocated his shoulder, Thurman has tallied at least 130 yards and a touchdown in every game this year. Shadow Ridge’s No. 35 state ranking should head up following its 48-9 win over Dobson on Oct. 30. With three games remaining, the Stallions will look to make their playoff push.

“Freshman year walking in the weight room [the upperclassmen] just acted completely different than we do now and we all have that same goal in mind,'' Thurman said. "Everybody was on their own terms, everyone was looking out for themselves. But now we’re all together and we’ve completely switched around this culture, and I feel like doing that is going to change this school and this school’s athletics for years to come. We can be a big school and I feel like that’s a huge accomplishment. We’re a much more focused group. We’re all working towards one goal like a unit.”