Holmes Runs Southwestern to 23-0 Win

Southwestern and San Diego Mesa used strong passing games to reach the second community college National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Bowl Saturday night in Balboa Stadium.

But this time it was a running back who made the difference. Danny Holmes scored on touchdown runs of 3, 21 and 78 yards to lead No. 17-ranked Southwestern (7-3-1) to a 23-0 victory. Holmes rushed for 182 yards on 27 carries. Mesa, ranked No. 15 in the state, finished 6-3-2.

Entering the bowl game, Mesa’s Jeff Sturch had passed for 2,362 yards and DeAngelo Mitchell had caught 70 passes for 1,033 yards. Brad Platt had thrown for 2,545 yards and Robert Claiborne had caught 62 passes for 1,111 yards to lead Southwestern.

But a rain-soaked and muddy field grounded both passing games. Platt was 5 of 12 for 15 yards and Sturch and Ron Bradley combined for 141 yards, completing 12 of 39 passes but throwing four interceptions.

Holmes’ first touchdown was set up by a 22-yard punt return by John Bankhead in the first quarter. One minute later Holmes scored from the 21 after a Mesa fumble was recovered by linebacker Roy DeLong.

Early in the second quarter, Mark Nawrocki sacked Sturch in the end zone for a safety to give Southwestern a 16-0 halftime lead.

Holmes scored his final touchdown on a 78-yard run up the middle. Holmes plowed into the line and then popped between two players and running untouched into the end zone.