Look: Gerardo Ruiz' breakout performance leads Strathmore to State Championship domination (Story, interview video)

Ruiz, a sophomore, had a career night with five rushing touchdowns when it was needed most

Author:
Lance Smith, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Dec 9, 2023 9:25 PM EST

PASADENA, Calif. - With star running back Jacob Poole out with an injury, Strathmore needed a new hero to secure a CIF State 7-A Championship.

Thanks largely to sophomore Gerardo Ruiz, the Spartans had heroics to spare, walloping Bell Gardens 42-7. Entering the game with 556 yards and seven touchdowns rushing as Strathmore's RB2, Ruiz ran for 225 yards and five touchdowns, including three scores in the first quarter alone. That helped offset the loss of Poole's production – over 1,700 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards, accounting for half of the team's offensive yardage entering Saturday.

As usual, Ruiz was one of Strathmore's best defensive players as well at linebacker, helping the Spartans own the line of scrimmage. But his offensive production more than doubled any previous game in his varsity career, and the game may have looked much if not for his breakout performance on offense.

Strathmore football — Photo by Lance Smith

"I stepped up because one of my brothers got injured this week. I just wanted to step up for him. I didn't want to let him down."

Ruiz scored two touchdowns before Bell Gardens got on the board, which came with 4:01 left. And by that point, Strathmore had already scored more points than Bell Gardens would on the night. Ruiz ran for his third score with 2:58 left in the quarter, marking three touchdowns in nine minutes and two seconds of game time, when Strathmore took a 21-7 lead.

The next time either team scored came two quarters later. Quarterback Bryson Bias ran six yards to put his team up 28-7 with 2:21 left in the third quarter, and it was set up by a 77-yard dash by Ruiz.

Ruiz scored the final two touchdowns of the game, including a 36-yarder before the third quarter was through, en-route to a 42-7 victory.

Strathmore was the only team out of 10 at the Pasadena City College site with a state title already under its belt – coming in 2017 under current head coach Jeromy Blackwell. That campaign was the middle of three straight start finals run. So, this title marks two state championships for the Spartans in the span of seven years (and six postseasons).

While Strathmore graduates some of its best players, including Poole, Bias, and receiver/defensive end Julian Ceballos, most of its core returns. Factor in that this team has made four state finals in the last seven postseasons and won two of them, and they have to like their chances of going deep into the playoffs for years to come.

"It's going to be a long, good run," said Ruiz.

"I hope that we prepare the same, and we should be back here again."