LINCOLN -- Ryan Holcomb, who overcame challenges brought on by autism graduating from Lincoln High School in May, never scored a touchdown in his six-year football career yet prevented one.
Holcomb also bowled on Lincoln's state tournament team. His progress in football made him Lincoln's Inspirational Athlete of the Year for 2014 as selected by the ENTERPRISE-LEADER.
85-Pound Weakling
Holcomb started out as comic-book example of a 85-pound weakling before bulking up to 130 pounds in the weightroom and said going out for football wasn't that hard but he remembers a smashing blow absorbed.
"The hardest hit I ever took was the one against Mountainburg in my junior high career in like 2009," Holcomb said. "I was safety. This other guy ran the football. He kept running towards me."
Holcomb gestures as if poising himself to make a tackle as the last line of defense. If this runner gets past him the result will be a touchdown for their opponent and Holcomb does his best to keep that from happening.
"I got in front of him..."
A collision occurs and Holcomb finds himself going down with the runners legs churning.
"He about bulldozed over me..."
Unlike some primping athletes, Holcomb isn't the least concerned about looking good. At this point his only job is to bring the runner down. With one last determined effort, he succeeds never losing his firm grip.
"I got him hauled down by his shoulderpads..."
Always A Gentleman
Classmate and teammate Tyler Cummings transferred to Lincoln from just down U.S. 62 at rival Prairie Grove and became acquainted with Holcomb when the boys entered seventh grade together. Cummings says Holcomb's record as a gentleman is unblemished in that time span.
"Since seventh grade when I first met Ryan Holcomb, I've never heard that kid say one thing negative about anybody," Cummings said. "He's never missed a summer workout. He may not be the most gifted or the most athletic but he definitely has the most heart and the most dedication towards the Lincoln Wolves."
First Career Pick
Holcomb recounted his favorite memory from Lincoln's historic 2013 football season as making his first career interception on the next to last play of the fourth quarter in a 71-0 win at Dover.
Cummings was playing deep safety standing right behind Holcomb when the pick happened with Holcomb scooping a deflected pass off the turf. The football was falling low when he reached out and made the catch. A chorus of war whoops went up from the other 10 Lincoln defenders on the playing field and everybody on the sideline. The Wolves instantly were transformed from defense to offense.
Everyone was seeking someone to block and as a collective unit they began ushering Holcomb downfield almost willing him into the end zone. Inspired by all the yelling to try and score, Holcomb returned the ball 20 yards before the last Pirate brought him down. Dover had already surrended 71 points in almost every way imaginable. They had been burned on a 90-yard pass play when quarterback Drew Harris saw nine men in the box and audibled before tossing a lateral to wide-out Alec Pitts isolated on the left sideline.
One juke and 90 yards later Lincoln had a touchdown adding Emilio Marrufo's 40-yard field goal late in the first half. Trailing 50-0 at intermission Dover contributed to the rout by fumbling a shotgun snap into the end zone to begin the third quarter. Lincoln senior Zach Hall pounced on the ball for a defensive touchdown. The Wolves had added two more touchdowns and coach Brad Harris played his bench throughout the entire second half sending Holcomb in on offense as a wide receiver and on defense as a safety.
Modest Achievements
Holcomb responds very modestly when asked to describe catching the interception below his knees.
"It was somewhere there," Holcomb said feeling uncomfortable discussing his exploit.
"He made the play, he read it. He put himself in position to make that play," Cummings said. "He was in the right place at the right time, you know that's good for him."
While Holcomb was reluctant to expound on personal accomplishments he was quick to express his appreciation for Cummings' contributions with the runningback gaining 2,058 yards on the ground in an 11-2 season with 415 of those and six touchdowns coming in a 41-21 second-round playoff win at Malvern -- Lincoln's first-ever post-season road victory a week after winning their first playoff game in school history, 27-13, at home over perennial power Nashville.
"To us, he's a decent runningback," Holcomb states matter-of-factly in a monotone before expressing admiration for Cummings' running style. "He runs the football like a juggernaut, he just runs over anyone who gets in his way."
Secret Weapon
Holcomb also acknowledged tremendous advantages Lincoln benefitted from when foreign-exchange student Emilio Maruffo came out for football and took over kicking duties. Maruffo had never kicked a football before yet had extensive experience playing soccer.
"He kicks pretty well," Holcomb said, again starting out in a nonchalant tone before making his point, "Basically, he can do it."
A casual observer may have regarded such a comment as a gross understatement when compared to Maruffo's achievements. (List stats here)
Yet, Holcomb knows exactly what he's talking about. The statement is revealing when interpreted from a standpoint of having gone through training camp with no apparent heir to graduated kicker Manual Ortiz. Holcomb practiced kicking off and Coach Harris had him perfect an onside kick -- a secret weapon Lincoln never had opportunity to use. Holcomb was fully aware of the value of having someone on the roster with leg strength and good kicking technique.
Holcomb never intended to go out for football but football found him when he responded to a letter Coach Harris sent out inviting all incoming seventh graders to participate and the experience revolutionized his world.
Sweet memories of capitalizing on opportunity to do something Holcomb never dreamed about will last a lifetime.
Sports on 12/24/2014