Aggressive Sylmar Batters and Bruises El Camino Real, 28-7

When you have a player on your team named Bruce Lee, and he gets knocked out of the game on the opening kickoff, it’s probably not a good omen.

And it wasn’t for El Camino Real High on Friday night. The Conquistadores lost special-teams player Lee, then starting running back Chris Shinnick, and finally their nonleague game against Sylmar, 28-7, at Taft High.

It was a frustrating night offensively for the Conquistadores (2-1). They played most of the game without Shinnick, who suffered a broken wrist in the second period and committed four turnovers and gained just 153 yards--only 21 through the air.

El Camino Real had been averaging 218 yards on the ground and had outscored its first two opponents, 57-7. But Sylmar (1-1) was not Monroe or North Hollywood.

“They took it to us,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said. “I knew they were going to be mad after losing to Chatsworth last week.”

The Spartans got big offensive efforts from quarterback Ryan Walker and running back Tobaise Brookins.

Walker, who suffered a shoulder separation before the season, came on in the second period and completed eight of 13 passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns.

Brookins rushed for 106 yards in 26 carries but got 56 yards in the fourth period after the outcome had been decided.

Walker threw second-half scoring passes of nine and 33 yards to George Brazil and Justin Kelin. Brian Roberson scored Sylmar’s go-ahead touchdown on a 20-yard run in the third period, erasing a 7-6 El Camino Real lead.

El Camino Real scored first late in the first period, Andy Hasson’s one-yard run capping an 11-play, 52-yard drive. Joe LaFirenza added the kick to put the Conquistadores ahead, 7-0.

El Camino Real quarterback Evan Howland tossed a pair of second-quarter interceptions, and Albert Contreras returned the second one 26 yards to the Conquistadore 45. Four plays later, Walker threw a 33-yard scoring strike to Roberson down the right sideline. The kick attempt was wide.

Roberson started at quarterback for Sylmar, but Walker took over in the second period and completed five of eight for 68 yards.