Portland High senior Ryan Ruhlin was thrust into playing quarterback last week for the first time in two seasons. He scored the first touchdown on a 25-yard run in a 22-0 victory against Edward Little.
But Friday night against Bangor, he’ll be back at tight end and defensive end.
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Such has been the high school football career of the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Ruhlin, who also has played middle linebacker, defensive tackle, and been the Bulldogs’ punter and kicker. And he also holds on PATs.
Ruhlin, a senior, lost his starting quarterback job prior to his junior season to classmate Jordan Talbot, who is still No. 1 on the depth chart. Talbot couldn’t play last week because of the effects of a concussion but has been cleared to play against Bangor.
“It was always my dream to play quarterback for Portland,” said Ruhlin, the starting quarterback as a freshman and sophomore before Coach Jim Hartman decided to go in a different direction.
Talbot was the mobile, athletic quarterback who could run the Bulldogs’ offense, which mixes in wing-T and spread concepts. Ruhlin has a strong arm but isn’t as mobile as Talbot.
“Of course I was disappointed when I was told I wouldn’t be the quarterback at the start of my junior year,” he said.
Instead of sulk and mope, the naturally upbeat Ruhlin embraced his new role.
“I just wanted to do what my team needed me to do,” he said.
If that meant playing tight end, defensive end or whatever position the Bulldogs needed, Ruhlin was more than willing. He usually has a smile and is well-respected by teammates, who voted him as one of the tri-captains with Talbot and all-conference lineman Dom DiMillo.
“Ryan never complained,” DiMillo said about the switch in quarterbacks. “He stayed positive and has worked hard to improve as a tight end and defensive end. Ryan is a leader.”
And Hartman knows he can call on Ruhlin if the situation dictates.
“He certainly had a reason to be bothered losing his job as the starting quarterback,” Hartman said. “He accepted it and has worked hard to be the best player he can be. Ryan’s very smart, a great leader and a true gentleman.”
As for Ruhlin’s return to quarterback last week?
“He did very well,” said DiMillo.
Since Ruhlin has kept close tabs on Portland’s offensive scheme, returning to quarterback wasn’t that big of an adjustment.
“The offense is similar to what we had when I was the regular quarterback,” he said. “I don’t feel I’ve lost a step.”
Ruhlin would like to take back the three interceptions he threw against Edward Little. He feels a lot of that had to do with not having his timing down with receivers.
After losing its opening game to Cheverus in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Class A final, Portland (2-1) faces a pivotal test Friday night against Bangor (3-0), one of the three teams still unbeaten in the region.
“I feel we have a lot of potential. We’re still finding our identity. It should be fun,” said Ruhlin.
Ruhlin always looks on the positive side and that helped him deal with losing the starting quarterback job.
Quarterback was the only position he had known since playing it in youth football in South Portland, where he grew up and still lives.
Growing up, Ruhlin was the waterboy for Portland football when his father, Jamie, was an assistant coach under Mike Bailey.
Father and son used to play catch after games. When it was time to choose a high school, Portland was the logical choice for Ruhlin, who had to pay tuition to attend his first two years.
“Academically, Portland has been a good fit for me,” said Ruhlin.
Socially and athletically, too. He’s a defenseman in hockey and captain like in football, and there’s a good chance he’ll also be a captain in baseball.
An honor-roll student, Ruhlin plans to attend college, where he hopes to continue his baseball career.
This will likely be his last season playing football and as chance would have it, Ruhlin could end up playing the position he started playing when he entered Portland.
The team’s needs will determine that.
Starting as a quarterback and finishing as one? That’s a possibility. If so, his career will have come full circle.
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