PREP NOTES : Recipe for a Memorable Football Game: Just Add Dirt and Water

No matter what you called it--The Big Game, Mud Bowl ‘92, Hype Bowl--last week’s Esperanza-Los Alamitos football game was as memorable as any battle of unbeaten teams in recent years.

Among the lasting impressions:

* The mud. It has been a long time since an Orange County field looked as bad as Valencia’s did Friday night.

And that was before Esperanza and Los Alamitos took the field.

Late in the game, Los Alamitos receiver Don Ruberio stood on the sideline with a baseball-sized clump of mud on his shoulder.

* The overall high quality of play by each team in absolutely miserable conditions. The teams combined for only three turnovers, which was remarkable.

* Los Alamitos quarterback Tim Carey’s unwavering confidence. Faced with big-game pressure and all that mud, Carey stood his ground, firing one strike after another to his wide-outs.

He completed 10 of 20 passes for 150 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

* Esperanza quarterback Jon Aed’s unwavering confidence. If there was an overlooked aspect of the game, it was Aed’s passing.

As it turned out, Aed actually had more yards than Carey.

Aed’s totals: 14 of 26 for 155 yards with one interception.

Here’s one vote for an Esperanza-Los Alamitos rematch for the Southern Section Division II championship Dec. 12 . . . on a dry field.