You hate to report on this kind of news, especially after the marvelous game San Marino’s Kwame Do had against La Salle.
The junior running back is all but done for the season as we reported here Friday night. San Marino coach Mike Mooney said the sideline evaluation pointed to a torn ACL. Do was admitted to the emergency room Friday night and underwent X-Rays, which indicated there were no fractures. Do will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
“We’ll have more of a definitive answer then,” Mooney said. “But we are planning on him being shut down for the season.”
Do rushed for 223 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown before suffering the right knee injury five minutes into the third quarter. Do did not carry the ball in the third quarter.
Do was intercepted a pass in the third quarter. He tried to break free from a tackle, but when he planted his right leg it buckled, landing in an awkward position.
“I had a bad feeling as the play unfolded,” said Mooney on Friday night. “I saw his knee buckle.”
San Marino plays host to Rosemead in Week 3. Do’s loss is a blow to the Titans, particularly on offense, which Do accounted for the majority of production with 414 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Mooney and the Titans now have to figure out how to replace that kind of output for an offense that heavily relied on Do’s prowess.
“The first thing is nobody likes to see injuries in football,” Mooney said. “We know it’s the nature of the game. When it happens it’s devastating. The first thought is we’re all bummed for our teammate and a great kid who wanted to have fun and play football. So there’s some emotional stuff we have to deal with as a team.
“Beyond that, we can’t sit around and lick our wounds that long because we have to play some football. Some other guys are going to have to step up and play more significant roles than they have.”
Morgan Myers and Ryan Wood will rotate time in the backfield. Both have seen plenty of time in two games this season. Their run style is different.
“He’s a hard runner,” Mooney said. “He’s a different kind of runner in that he’s not the elusive grinder. He’s more the attitude, hammer runner.”
Myers, also a starting linebacker with a significant role on special teams, has 21 carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Wood has nine carries for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
“Those guys will have to assume the role and leadership running the ball,” Mooney said.
Do’s absence also means junior quarterback Garret Glazier will have to develop quicker than planned.
“The game plan is to always ease the new quarterback along,” Mooney said, “but we may just have to up the timetable on asking him to do more things for us.”
