North Hollywood Passes by Sylmar

It was billed as a battle of the ground attack. North Hollywood features two running backs in the Valley-area City Section top 10, and the Sylmar backfield consists of cousins Sean and Michael Hampton. So, most expected an offensive show similar to an Oklahoma-Nebraska showdown.

Passing was almost an afterthought for the two teams in previous games.

So much for predictions and previews.

North Hollywood quarterback James Crump passed for 146 yards--he had just 79 total yards after the Huskies’ first three games--to lead North Hollywood to a 21-14 win Friday at Sylmar in a Pac 8 League game.

A Sylmar rally late in the fourth period produced nervous moments for Coach Fred Grimes on the Huskie sideline. Sylmar threatened late in the game.

Down, 21-6, Sean Hampton returned a Crump fumble 15-yards for a touchdown. Following the two-point conversion by Hampton, Sylmar tried an onside kick with two minutes remaining, but North Hollywood recovered.

The Huskies ran four plays, leaving just 31 seconds when Sylmar took possession on their own 46-yard line. But, quarterback Rick Negrete’s desperation pass was intercepted by Steve Chuck, insuring the Husky win.

North Hollywood (3-0-1) running back Chip Grant and Mark Spiwak were all but shut down by the Sylmar defense, but reserve back Mark Stanford picked up the slack, rushing for 111 yards on just 10 carries.

Sean Hampton finished with 60 on 17 carries, the second consecutive week the Times’ All-Valley has been held under 100 yards rushing.

The Huskies wasted no time after the halftime kickoff, when on the second play from scrimmage, Stanford raced 72 yards for a touchdown and a 14-6 North Hollywood lead.

North Hollywood later scored on the first play of the fourth quarter.