Bernard Holmes Shines For Cobras
March 12, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
CHARLOTTE Â No player has had a bigger impact for the Carolina Cobras this season than WR/DB turned OS Bernard Holmes. After being inactive for the season opener and catching just one pass for three yards in week two, the six-year Arena Football League veteran has been on fire.
In his last three games played, Holmes has put up three of the top five single-game all-purpose yardage totals in Cobras franchise history. He has caught 28 passes for 382 yards and six touchdowns and returned 22 kickoffs for 421 yards and one touchdown during that stretch.
Holmes is one of only three players in the league averaging over 200 all-purpose yards per game this season. His 204.0 yards per game rank him third in the league in that category. He also ranks ninth in all-purpose yardage (816), ninth in kickoff returns (22) and tenth in kickoff return yardage (421) despite only having played in four of six games.
In his breakout game on February 14 against Detroit, Holmes had seven receptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns and returned eight kickoffs for 162 yards and one touchdown, while playing OS in place of the injured Ben Bronson. His 56-yard touchdown return was tied for third longest in Cobras history and was the first touchdown return by a Cobras player since Carl Bond did it on April 26, 2002. His 272 all-purpose yards ranked third in Cobras history at the time.
Holmes topped that the following week against Orlando with 283 all-purpose yards. He caught 11 passes for 92 yards and one touchdown and returned nine kickoffs for 181 yards and one missed field goal for 10 yards. His nine kickoff returns and 10 total returns in the game rank second among the Cobras all-time records in each category.
Holmes missed week five due to a death in his family, but returned with a bang in week six against Las Vegas. While again playing OS with Bronson out indefinitely with a knee injury, he recorded a career-high 180 receiving yards on ten receptions including two touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs for 78 yards, giving him 258 all-purpose yards.
Holmes graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville after being named All-Lone Star Conference as a senior in 1994. He spent one year in the Canadian Football League before beginning his AFL career with the Texas Terror in 1997. Holmes spent the 1998 offseason with the New York Jets but was released prior to training camp. Since then, he has played in the AFL with Houston (1998-99), Florida (2000-01) and Dallas (2002).
Entering the 2003 season, Holmes ranked among the AFL's all-time Top 25 in several receiving categories. Holmes was tied for 22nd in receptions (338), ranked 23rd in receiving touchdowns (78) and ranked 24th in receiving yards (4,204).
Below are the top five all-purpose yardage games in Cobras history, of which Holmes has recorded three in his four games played this season.
Player Date Opp Rec Ret Total
Corey Johnson 7/7/01 NY 0 326 326
Jack Jackson 4/14/01 FLA 155 148 303
Bernard Holmes 2/21/03 ORL 92 181 283
Bernard Holmes 2/14/03 DET 110 162 272
Bernard Holmes 3/9/03 LV 180 78 258
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 12, 2003
- Garcia Continues Torrid Pace - AFL I
- Rivalry Adds Another Chapter - AFL I
- Indiana Firebirds Game Notes - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Grand Rapids Rampage Game Notes - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Damian Harrell Interview - AFL I
- New York Dragons Game Notes - New York Dragons
- Georgia Force Signs Nine-Year AFL Veteran Bret Cooper - Georgia Force
- Los Angeles Avengers Game Notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Rampage Face Desperados in Divisional Showdown - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Bernard Holmes Shines For Cobras - Carolina Cobras
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
