Taft By Patrick Bean Express-News Staff Writer
Publication: San Antonio Express-News
Date: November 6, 1991
Page: 10C
Marshall running back Anthony Holmes, sidelined since the sixth week of the season with a deep thigh bruise, will miss the top-ranked Rams’ final regular-season game with Taft Friday night but should see action in the playoffs.
Despite missing the Rams’ final four games, Holmes will finish the regular season among the area’s leading rushers with 1,149 yards on 113 carries.
After an examination Tuesday, doctors advised Marshall coach David Visentine to sit Holmes out another week. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound tailback feels little pain in the leg, so the move is mostly precautionary. “He had a lot of bleeding and swelling at first, and the bruise caused fluid to go to his knee,” Visentine said. “Recovering from that is a long, slow process. He’s really disappointed. He thought he was well. “We had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging, a muscle scan) done on the bruise, and there was blood all in that muscle. But there were no calcium deposits on the bone, so it’s not long-term.”
After huge success in Marshall’s run-oriented offense for the first six weeks of the year, Holmes has missed the Rams’ last three district games. Holmes’ 1,149 yards and 10.2 yards per carry through six games were best in South Texas at that time. Every game was a big one for the second-year starter: 232 yards and two touchdowns against MacArthur; 253 yards, four TDs against Edison; 196 yards, five TDs against Churchill; 142 yards, three TDs vs. Lee; 152 yards, 2 TDs vs. Madison; and 175 yards, 2 TDs against Holmes.
The Rams lost to Southwest, 6-3, during Holmes’ second week of absence, but they bounced back to whip Clark, 22-0, last weekend, reclaiming the No. 1 city ranking at 8-1 overall, 3-1 in District 28-5A. “He’s down about it,” Visentine said. “He’s never been injured before, so he doesn’t know how to react. He’s in no pain, so he thinks he’s well. “A couple of weeks ago, he showed up for after-school practice in full pads. I said ‘What are you doing?’ He said he was going to practice. I sent him back to the training room. He really wants to play.”
Marshall trainer Jay Young said Holmes has been having little pain since sustaining the injury against Holmes. His range of motion is limited, though. “You’d think he’d be in pain, but it’s not really that painful of an injury,” Young said. “There’s more of a discomfort involved. He’s not writhing in agony.” Young said the concern was not that Holmes could re-injure his thigh or worsen the injury, but that his limited motion could cause another problem.
“It could lead to another injury,” Young said. “He wouldn’t be able to cut like he’s used to, and that could lead to a more-serious knee injury or something like that. “He’s improving, but he’s day-to-day, week-to-week. He’s showing improvement every day. We’re hoping we get some good news for the playoffs.”
Holmes might have played this week, but Marshall already has clinched a postseason berth. He should play in the bidistrict round of the playoffs.
