Column: Sylmar quarterback Clarence Williams is the personification of loyalty

In this era of immediate gratification, where teenagers never want to hear the three most horrifying words in sports, “Wait your turn,” it’s time to honor the seemingly forgotten but always admirable character trait: loyalty.

For four years, Clarence Williams has been the face of Sylmar High sports. He became a starter at quarterack in the first month of his freshman season and hasn’t wavered through good and turbulent times, through a coaching change and through a lack of college scholarship offers because he’s only 5 feet 11.

“He’s always been the leader since he stepped on the varsity level as a freshman,” Coach John Brazil said. “As he go, we go.”

Williams has passed for 124 touchdowns in his career, and he’ll be trying to lead Sylmar (7-2, 5-0) to the Valley Mission League title Friday night in a showdown with host Canoga Park (6-3, 5-0).

Williams showed up at Sylmar after being a youth football star. His early varsity success and then the departure of Coach Chris Richards during his sophomore season had private schools salivating. That’s because he had good grades, was athletic, personable, a hard worker. The feelers were out: You’ll get more exposure by transferring.

“There was some talk,” Williams said. “I just stayed. They told me they’d do the best they can to get me to the next level.”

Williams was never going to leave the friends he has played with since his youth football days.

He has won two City Section championship rings playing on the basketball team. He made it to the Division II final in football last season before the Spartans lost to Hamilton at the Coliseum. He had 42 touchdown passes as a junior. He’ll have to take on the likes of Narbonne, Crenshaw, Birmingham and Arleta in the Division I playoffs this season.

“I would say he’s the throwback athlete from the old-school mentality playing for your neighborhood school for four years,” basketball Coach Bort Escoto said. “He’s the guy you want to be your team captain.”

In basketball, Escoto always picked out a role for Williams and he’d respond.

“What do you want me to do?” Williams would say.

“I want you to stop the other team’s best player,” Escoto said.

“I’ll do it,” Williams said.

“He’s the perfect leader,” Escoto said. “And he knows how to lead and how to compete and get all the guys involved.”

The wait continues to convince a college recruiter that he can play at the next level.

“Hopefully, if we can make a run, he’ll open up some eyes,” Brazil said.

Said Williams: “I don’t feel it’s an obstacle. I’ve seen 5-11 quarterbacks getting offers not just in California. I don’t feel that’s holding me back. I know I have the ability and frame to play at the D-I level.”

Whatever happens, he has opened the eyes of many around Sylmar. They’d run through a brick wall if Williams asked. And, of course, he’d lead the way.