Raul Dominguez Jr. Express-News Staff Writer
Publication: San Antonio Express-News
Date: December 14, 1991
Page: 6C
Wouldn’t it have been great if Anthony Holmes had played in all of Marshall’s games? And what if he had broken Chris Pryor’s Class 5A single-season rushing mark? Now wouldn’t that be great? Unfortunately for Holmes, life isn’t a television commercial. Holmes missed four games during the season with a deep thigh bruise. Now he is about 1,000 yards short of Pryor’s record.
The idea of Holmes breaking that record is not far-fetched. Holmes has rushed for 1,888 yards in just 10 games, an average of 188.8 yards per game. Pryor rushed for 2,800 yards in 16 games, an average of 175 yards per game.
If Holmes not been injured and assuming he had maintained that average, he would be entering Saturday’s regular Class 5A semifinal game against Aldine with about 2,600 yards.
“You don’t ever know about those things,” Marshall coach David Visentine said. “If he had stayed healthy, he would have had some impressive stats.” But even though he missed four games, Holmes still has some impressive statistics.
The Rams were almost guaranteed a first down every time Holmes touched the ball. He averaged 9.3 yards per carry while picking up 1,888 yards and 25 touchdowns on 202 attempts. That made it difficult for the Rams when Holmes was out for four games during the thick of their District 28-5A schedule. Marshall went 2-2 in those games, the only losses for the Rams this season. “It is hard to say if things would have been different if we would have had him,” Visentine said. “He does add a punch to our offense that we don’t have when he is not in there.”
Marshall missed Holmes as much as he missed not playing. “It was a real tough situation for him,” Visentine said. “He had never been injured before. He had never missed a game. He wanted to get in there.” But as much as Holmes wanted to take the field, Visentine made him understand it was best he allow the injury to completely heal. “I told him everything would work out for the best in the end,” Visentine said. “I told him to just be patient.”
Visentine was right.
Holmes has rushed for 738 yards and seven touchdowns in 90 attempts since returning in time for Marshall’s playoff run. That does not surprise Visentine. “He is a very talented kid,” Visentine said. “He has a lot of God-given talent and he uses it well. He not only has a lot of talent, he is a good kid. A hard worker. He’s got a good attitude about everything.”
His performance in Marshall’s four playoff games may have been the biggest of his senior season. Holmes was receiving some attention from colleges early in the season, but not as much as would be expected considering his statistics. But now Holmes is receiving attention from TCU, SMU, Texas, Baylor, Houston, Oklahoma, Iowa and Pittsburgh among others.
“At the beginning of the season there were some question about his size and his speed,” Visentine said. “I think he has definitely answered all of those questions. Being in the playoffs has given him good exposure.” Holmes will wait until after Marshall’s season is completed to start paring the college list down.
