Ruberio Does Not Pass Up His Chance : Football: Former quarterback, now a receiver, throws halfback option for touchdown, then scores on pass play.

NORWALK — There was a time when Los Alamitos’ Don Ruberio was better known as a passer than a receiver. Ruberio was a lower-level quarterback who figured to continue the school’s great tradition at the position. But all that changed when Tim Carey transferred from Mater Dei to Los Alamitos midway through his sophomore season.

Instead, Carey gained the glory, not to mention a full scholarship to Stanford, as the Griffins’ starting quarterback the past two seasons. Ruberio was resigned to play a support role as one of Los Alamitos’ three gifted receivers.

But Saturday night in the Southern Section Division II championship game at Cerritos College, Ruberio had one of the best games of his career and even managed to overshadow Orange County’s best quarterback.

Ruberio accounted for all of Los Alamitos’ scoring. He threw a 53-yard halfback option pass to receiver George Sagen and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Carey. Both plays came in the second quarter and enabled Los Alamitos to tie Esperanza, 14-14.

Ruberio’s touchdown pass came at the end of a double reverse. Carey handed off to tailback Marchant Wright, who handed off to Ruberio as he came around left end. Ruberio stopped short in his tracks and saw Sagen streaking down the right sideline.

So Ruberio did what any other former quarterback would do in a similar situation . . . he threw a pass to Sagen near Esperanza’s 20-yard line, and Sagen raced untouched into the end zone.

“Their defensive backs run up on us thinking it was a running play all the way,” Ruberio said. “George was wide open.”

But Sagen wasn’t nearly as open as Ruberio was when he caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Carey with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter.

“It was a simple streak,” Ruberio said. “Tim placed the ball perfectly to me. At the time, I think they were more concerned about the run.”

Carey concurred. “They (Esperanza defensive backs) were moving up closer to the line with each play,” Carey said. “They were in a man defense, and Don outran his defender. He was wide open, and I had all day back there on the play.”

A strong wind coupled with Esperanza’s defense prevented Carey & Co. from opening up its passing game most of the evening. Carey finished with 195 yards passing, and Ruberio caught four passes for 81 yards.

“You have to give Esperanza’s defense a lot of credit,” Ruberio said. “It was windy, but we still should have been able to throw the ball.”

Both of Los Alamitos’ touchdowns came with the wind at their backs. Carey was sporadic at best throwing into the wind.

“I left a couple of passes short throwing into the wind,” said Carey, who completed 14 of 26 passes. “But the wind wasn’t a major factor. Esperanza’s defense had a lot to do with what happened.”