Lalo Respicio has you fooled.

He has deceptively made the job of quarterback look like a breeze this season. The Campbell senior led his team to the Oahu Interscholastic Association White championship game, posting some eye-popping numbers along the way.

He makes it look easy. But now he knows it isn't.

Respicio, who didn't start playing football until he was a freshman at Nanakuli, scoffed when his uncle suggested he try out for quarterback his sophomore year.

“;I was like, 'quarterback? That's so easy, all you gotta do is throw the ball,' “; Respicio said. “;It really opened my eyes when I went and tried out—it was something I didn't expect. Harder, I had to stay after practice, learn plays, I had to be in charge of who has what, what my responsibility is, the line. Being quarterback is not something easy, you can't just walk into and say 'I'm going to be the best passer or whatever' quarterback that there ever is.”;

Instead he credits those around him—his coaches, the Sabers defense and his talented receivers—for the team's success.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Respicio has posted tremendous numbers: 2,269 passing yards with a 62 percent completion rate and 28 touchdown passes against just three interceptions in coach Amosa Amosa's modified run-and-shoot offense.

But what has most impressed those around Respicio more than his arm strength or quick release is his high character. As much as his talent, it has made him an easy flag-bearer to rally around as the Sabers thrust toward the team's first OIA White championship since 2004.

“;He's a great individual. Very humble guy, and being the field general here, the other players respect him, listen to him,”; said Amosa, who brought his offense to his alma mater from Aiea this year. “;He's an example of (when kids) in their families, in their communities, in their jobs, when they go to college, continue to be successful beyond the field.”;

Forget football success, though it will help carry him to the next level along with his 3.5 cumulative GPA. Respicio's primary goal is to complete college with a nursing degree, return home and help raise his four younger siblings.

He's already played a big part in guiding Joseph, 7, Andrew, 5, Alan, 3, and Glorina, 2. They recently moved with him from Nanakuli to stay with relatives in Ewa Beach.

“;I've always been the guy to watch out for the kids and stuff,”; said Respicio, who also has two older brothers. “;I'm the oldest that's there (among the kids). I'm going to help out my little brothers and sister to provide them with the things they don't have now. The other kids how they have all these extra things ... I just want to get to college, get a good job, and support my younger siblings ... that's my dream.”;

Respicio's role in his family led him to consider nursing, but his caretaker personality extends to his favorite sport as well.

“;It really carries onto the field, caring about what you gotta do and caring about other people,”; he said.

For now, Respicio and his teammates embrace the challenge that awaits. The only game Campbell (9-1) lost this year was a 26-14 decision to Radford (the upcoming opponent in the league title game on Nov. 7) in which Respicio and several other key starters were out with an illness. The Sabers are unbeaten with him at the controls.

Respicio's primary targets—Derrick Santiago, Arthur Aiwohi, Daniel Masifilo, Samson Anguay, and running back Brandon Ahuna—all swear by their new leader on the field. Last year, the team rarely threw the ball in the Wing-T offense. But with Respicio's appearance and his embrace of Amosa's system (he also ran the Wing-T at Nanakuli in a three-win season as a junior) the team barely resembles the Sabers of last year.

“;He calls a lot of audibles,”; Ahuna said. “;If he sees one guy crashing in on the right side, he'll switch it to the left. He reads a lot of stuff before he actually plays it.”;

“;Right when we're open, we turn around and the ball is there,”; said Santiago, the right slotback. “;Any second later, and it's probably a pick.”;

Quarterbacks coach Wyatt Tau recalled a play that displayed Respicio's arm strength during the team's win against Kaiser.

“;He took his drop step back, and he just kind of threw the ball but you could see he had no power in it,”; Tau said. “;But the ball still went like 40 yards down the field. I think that was the first time I was amazed about one pass.”;