Orange County Player of the Week : Imperiali Changes Gears to Miss Freeway Rush

In 1983, Tim Imperiali watched as Sunny Hills High School shut out La Habra, 29-0, to win its first Southern Section Central Conference championship.

He remembers the jubilant postgame celebration, of course. But most of all, he remembers feeling insignificant because he was just a 140-pound ball boy.

“Watching them was really great,” Imperiali said. “Their faces and their reactions to the whole thing was so exciting. But then I stood next to (La Habra’s 240-pound fullback) Anthony Weatherspoon. I felt really, really small.”

Three years later, as a 180-pound senior, Imperiali doesn’t feel so small--especially after Friday’s game against Fullerton.

Imperiali, The Times’ Player of the Week, rushed for 145 yards in 9 carries, including a 92-yard touchdown run. He also had 2 receptions for 24 yards to lead the Lancers to a 27-0 victory. As a result, Sunny Hills tied La Habra for the Freeway League championship.

Imperiali might have gained more yards had he not suffered a knee injury and left the game late in the third quarter. Imperiali’s knee is fine, and he will play Friday against La Quinta in the opening round of the Central Conference playoffs on Spaulding Field at Buena Park high School.

His performance last Friday didn’t surprise Tim Devaney, Lancer coach, who had used Imperiali as a receiver and punt returner for most of the season.

“We haven’t been putting the ball in his hands that much this season,” Devaney said. “Not that we didn’t have faith in his ability. We have. We were just trying different things out.

“Basically, Tim knows the facets of both the running and the passing game. He started on the freshman team as a running back, and played wide receiver on varsity as a sophomore. He’s one of those players that wherever he is, when he’s got his hands on the ball, everyone’s got their fingers crossed. He can make the big play.”

Mentioning such a notion to Imperiali results in a pair of shrugging shoulder pads.

“Well, I guess I can,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter to me if I do it or another guy on my team. As long as we win, that’s all that matters.”

But doesn’t Imperiali enjoy the feeling of being out in the spotlight? Or running for a 92-yard touchdown? Or how about being a leader of a 9-1 team?

“Yeah,” he said. “I guess it’s pretty exciting. It’s a lot better than just being a ball boy.”