JUST PREPS : Walter’s Glass Half-Full at Loyola

He threw the football every day last summer. Scott Walter was about to get a chance to be the starting quarterback at Loyola High, and he didn’t want to waste the opportunity.

When baseball season ended in May, Walter threw a football to whomever was around. He lifted weights and ran, and he daydreamed of leading Loyola, which has one of Southern California’s richest football traditions.

Walter, 6 feet 2 and 185 pounds, made a name for himself last season as a sophomore when he started three games. Coach Steve Grady figured he had found a quarterback for the next two years.

Things started well enough this season for Walter, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 victory over Fountain Valley in the opener. In the first half, he was tackled hard from behind and jammed his wrist when he fell.

Although he played the rest of the game, Walter was in pain the next morning and decided to see a doctor. He had broken his right wrist and had to wear a cast for two weeks. Because he is right-handed, Walter knew he wouldn’t be able to throw for at least a month.

“You work so hard getting ready for something, and just like that it’s taken away,” he said. “Sure, I was down for a while. It’s frustrating, especially when there’s nothing you can do about it. You just try to keep your head up.”

Although another junior, Ray Kasper, had taken over at quarterback, Walter didn’t want to sit on the bench while his wrist healed. He asked to play another position, and Grady worked him in at free safety.

Within two weeks, Walter won the starting job. In his first start, against Newhall Hart, he had two interceptions in the fourth quarter of a 27-23 victory.

“There’s certainly nothing to make you forget your troubles more than playing a good game,” said Walter, who was also an all-league catcher on the baseball team. “That game lifted my spirits so much and also allowed me to help the team.”

While Walter was establishing himself on defense, Kasper was beginning to take hold at quarterback. Grady saw no reason to make a switch back to Walter, even after the cast was removed.

“I had to make a decision after Scott broke his wrist because it wasn’t going to be a one-week deal,” Grady said. “Ray had been the designated backup anyway, and he’s done a good job for us.”

Loyola is 10-2 and has advanced to the Southern Section Division I semifinals for the sixth time in the last eight years. It plays Los Alamitos on Friday night at 7:30 at Glendale High.

Walter, who has four interceptions and 39 tackles, will have his hands full trying to stop a Los Alamitos passing attack that averages 238 yards a game.

“I didn’t expect to end up here when the season started,” Walter said of his new position, “but I’m just grateful to have a role, and defense is a lot of fun. It’s turned out to be OK.”

Kasper started at free safety before moving to quarterback. He’s also the shortstop on the baseball team. He knows Walter well and is aware his friend will want his old job back.

“I’d like to play quarterback again next year, but I’m sure Scott will too,” Kasper said. “We’re friends, so I think we’ll handle whatever the coach decides. There’s no animosity.”