When Darrion Thurman finished his basketball season at South Elgin, Wheaton St. Francis transfer Gavin Mueller finally got the full Thurman experience during offseason workouts.
“When he got there, the whole atmosphere shifted,” Mueller said of Thurman. “Everyone just loves being around him. But when he’s on the field, he just doesn’t go down.”
From the funniest kid off the field to a menace on it, Thurman was already poised for a big season. The senior running back saved his best for Friday, one of the Storm’s biggest games of the year.
Thurman finished with 205 yards on 23 carries — including touchdown runs of 60 and 24 yards — as South Elgin prevailed for a wild 42-35 Upstate Eight West victory at West Aurora.
The win avenged a 50-7 loss last fall to the Blackhawks, a fact Thurman brought up all week.
“I kept reminding them, 50-7,” he said. “We came out and executed, played together, got the W.”
Thurman’s 60-yard TD run built a 20-7 lead for South Elgin (2-2, 2-0) in the second quarter. While West Aurora (2-2, 1-1) briefly took a 21-20 lead, Thurman’s run set the tone for the whole night.
“We designed it,” Thurman said. “I told my coach, ‘This is going to be a great play and we’re going to hit it.’ We executed it. I saw the seam and I just took off.”
Mueller, a Colorado-bound senior tight end, was unleashed in the Wildcat formation, primarily in the second half. He turned 15 carries into 80 yards and a 2-yard TD. He also caught two passes for 56 yards, including a 26-yard TD from Carter McDonald.
Ball State recruit Mason Atkins kept the Blackhawks in the game, running for 137 yards and a pair of TDs on 18 carries. He also completed 8 of 16 passes for 121 yards and two TDs. Lesroy Tittle added a TD run and reception.
South Elgin’s Francesco Macaluso, meanwhile, returned an interception 20 yards for a TD.
Before last season, Pat Pistorio returned for his second stint as the Storm’s head coach. One player stood out even back then.
“I’m just really proud of him,” Pistorio said of Thurman. “From the day I walked in here, he was someone who was all-in with us. I’m really excited to see him have the night he had.”
Thurman saw Pistorio’s vision right away. There may have been a feeling-out process last season for the program, but this year, the two-time captain said the Storm have been locked in.
“He definitely brought everybody in and we’re playing like a family,” Thurman said of Pistorio.
The whole family was needed to outlast West Aurora. Macaluso got it started on the third play of the game with a pick-six. McDonald then found Jeremiah Carrera for a 5-yard TD to make it 13-0.
The Blackhawks took a 21-20 advantage with 3 seconds left in the first half on Atkins’ 10-yard TD pass to Tittle. That lead was short-lived, however.
Thurman gave the Storm the lead for good with 9:02 left in the third quarter on a 24-yard TD run. The game was always in doubt, but Mueller and Thurman were able to fend off the Blackhawks.
Mueller in the Wildcat was a big part of the reason why.
“We’ve had that in our back pocket the last several weeks,” Pistorio said. “He’s a special athlete. I’m just really proud of him and excited that he’s been able to showcase what he can do.”
Mueller also is happy to have Thurman on his team, whether it’s clowning around after school or lightening his load on the field.
“We’re extremely proud of him and love what he’s doing,” Mueller said. “I love playing with him.”
Thurman has been preparing for these moments. On Friday night, he proved it.
“I’m always ready for this, every single play,” he said. “This is my most rushing yards, so I’m proud. It felt amazing.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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