TEEN ATHLETE STANDS TALL AGAIN; CANYON HIGH STUDENT READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AS HE HEALS.

Byline: Mary Schubert Daily News Staff Writer

Two months ago, things seemed bleak for Josh Borgese. Severely injured in a high school football game, the wide receiver was in danger of losing his leg.

After enduring a five-hour surgery, heavy medication to ease his pain, reliance on a wheelchair for a month and his absence from school since late October, Josh is ready for a comeback. Not to the gridiron just yet, but to the classroom.

Doctors have cleared the 17-year-old senior to return to school at Canyon High when classes resume Jan. 5.

Since he was carried off the field during a Cowboy home game Oct. 24 against John Burroughs High School, Josh has slowly recovered from the compound fracture of his left leg. Two calf bones snapped, protruding through the skin in such fashion that some teammates ran away screaming.

His wound was soiled by dirt and grass from where he landed on the football field after catching a pass and being tackled. Doctors and nurses at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital had to meticulously clean the wound to lessen the chance for infection.

``He almost lost his leg,'' said Steve Borgese, Josh's father. ``When you see the hit on (game) films, that's hard to believe, because the kid has taken far harder hits.''

In fact, Josh has been playing football most of his life, but his broken left leg was the first serious injury he suffered. ``I started him out at 5 years old in flag football,'' Steve Borgese said. Josh took part in that city parks and recreation program - no tackling allowed - until he entered high school.

Having his senior season cut short was disappointing. ``It wasn't the injury itself - it was not playing that really hurt him,'' Borgese said. ``When you want the ball caught and you want a first down, he's the one you throw it to.''

But Josh's leg was so vulnerable to infection or re-injury that his parents brought in a home tutor several days a week rather than risk sending their son to school. If his leg were to be bumped or jostled, the pain could be enormous and there would be a severe setback to the healing process, Borgese said.

In fact, for the first few weeks after the accident, the family was worried about the possibility of gangrene or amputation. Steve Borgese said doctors loaded up Josh with medication to ward off infection and enhance his chances of keeping his leg.

``It was pretty bad thinking that if I got an infection (the leg) would be amputated,'' Josh said. ``I tried not to think about it.'' And whenever anyone else broached that topic, Josh said, he quickly changed the subject.

Most of that discussion took place during his five-day hospitalization. ``I didn't really know what was going on, because when I was in the hospital I was so drugged,'' Josh recalled. ``Being in the hospital was a complete blur.''

As luck would have it, Josh was discharged a few days before Halloween, when Canyon's varsity squad played another home game. He went to that contest, his wheelchair parked along the sidelines and an entourage in tow to protect his leg from errant balls or people who might bump into him.

Josh was on hand for the rest of the Cowboys' games as well. In an open thank-you letter, his mother Kathryn singled out Canyon High teammate Patrick Terry for wheeling Josh through the traditional post-game handshake line.

``I wasn't able to play, so I at least wanted to watch,'' Josh said. ``After every game, the kicker would push me across the field for the handshake.''

But his biggest milestone came in late November, when he took his first steps since the accident. ``Thanksgiving was the first day I was allowed out of my wheelchair. I was just happy on Thanksgiving because I was able to walk,'' Josh said.

``The doctor said it was the fastest he had ever seen an injury heal. He said (being) young and playing sports has helped my body heal.''

The teen, who had a 3.5 grade-point average, has had a hard time since the injury adjusting to home study. ``It's boring being at home all the time,'' Josh said.

``He really wants to be in school around his friends,'' Steve Borgese added.

To regain strength, mobility, flexibility and muscle mass in his left leg, Josh is on a physical therapy regimen at a local sports medicine clinic. There is a titanium rod in one of his calf bones and surgically implanted screws above his ankle and below his knee to hold the rod in place, he said.

Less than a week after he began walking, Josh was able to resume driving, even though he drives a stick shift car and he must use his still-recovering left leg. ``I didn't think I was going to be able to push down on the clutch,'' he said.

Josh remembers the play that ended his season - but not, he hopes, his chances of playing college football. ``It was the first play of the second quarter,'' he said. ``It was fourth down . . . and I caught a 13-yard pass that was good for the first down.''

So Josh's Cowboy grid career ended in the sixth game of his senior year, at which point he had tallied 28 catches for 410 yards on the season - and only one pass dropped all year, he said.

``He was having such a good season,'' said neighbor Kathy Cather, whose son Ben is a Cowboy teammate. ``We're all just keeping our fingers crossed that the damage isn't permanent.''

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PHOTO (color) Though a cast still hobbles his left leg, Canyon High's Josh Borgese is on the mend after a football injury nearly cost him the limb.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News