Sylmar on Target in 47-20 Victory Over Rival Poly

Sylmar High unloaded its entire arsenal against Poly on Friday and scored a direct hit on the defending City Section 3-A Division champion.

The Spartans scored on the ground, through the air and on defense to annihilate Poly, 47-20, in an East Valley League game at Sylmar.

Running back Tobaise Brookins led the ground attack with four touchdowns, and Ryan Walker commanded the air raid, completing six of seven passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.

The victory sets up a showdown for the league title between Sylmar (6-1, 5-0) and undefeated Birmingham (7-0, 5-0) next week at Sylmar. Poly (6-2, 4-1) had its six-game winning streak snapped.

Sylmar, which scored on its first six possessions, was sharp on both sides of the line.

Brookins, slowed by an ankle injury earlier in the season, rushed for 189 yards in 28 carries and scored on runs of four, 11, 18, and 20 yards. His performance reinforced what Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman has been saying for the past two seasons.

“Now there’s the Division I ballplayer I’ve been talking about,” Engilman said of Brookins.

Brookins was not the only Spartan to show NCAA Division I talent. In the second quarter, Brian Roberson scored on a 14-yard run and on a 62-yard pass from Walker to extend Sylmar’s lead to 28-7.

Walker came out throwing on Sylmar’s first possession. His first pass was batted down by Lionel Jackson at the line of scrimmage, but Walker went on to complete his next six passes. His first completion went 72 yards to George Brazil, who was streaking down the Sylmar sideline, and set up Brookins’ four-yard touchdown run just 39 seconds into the game.

Brazil, who left the game early in the third quarter because of torn ligaments in his right knee, scored on a 32-yard fumble return with 2:22 left in the first half to break the game open, 34-7.

Poly’s Jermaine Pledger, who rushed for 139 yards in 20 carries, scored on a one-yard run late in the first quarter to keep Poly close, 14-7.

But Sylmar answered with a 58-yard touchdown drive in eight plays. Roberson’s 14-yard run restored the Spartans’ 14-point lead early in the second quarter.