Sylmar’s Roberson Moves Into Spotlight

Sylmar High’s Brian Roberson has waited patiently for his moment in the spotlight on a football field.

His time came Friday night against Van Nuys in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game, as the senior scored four touchdowns to pace a 33-0 rout of the Wolves at Sylmar.

“This is the year for me to shine,” said Roberson, who started but played in the shadows of running back Tobaise Brookins and receiver-defensive back Girmar Johnson last year. “I’ve been waiting for this year since I was a little kid.”

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Roberson scored just about every way possible. He scored on a 29-yard pass, a 30-yard run, an 82-yard punt return and a 98-yard interception return.

Roberson, a starting flanker and free safety, averaged more than 35 yards in four punt returns.

The Spartans (3-1, 2-0 in league play), who sported a no-huddle offense in their first series, scored three touchdowns in the first quarter.

Quarterback Ryan Walker scored on a one-yard keeper to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game.

But it was Roberson’s three touchdowns that followed that broke the backs of the Wolves (1-3, 0-2) in the first half. Roberson’s first score came on a 29-yard pass from Walker less than three minutes after Walker’s keeper. It was Sylmar’s second play of its second possession. Van Nuys defenders got crossed up in the middle of the field and left Roberson all alone at the sideline near the goal line.

After Van Nuys’ ensuing possession, Roberson received a punt on a hop at Sylmar’s 18 and flew down the Van Nuys sideline untouched, sporting his 4.4 speed.

On Van Nuys’ first possession of the second quarter, the Wolves drove to Sylmar’s 14, which was as close as they would get all night.

Roberson picked off a Bill Calhoun pass in the middle of the field at the two, and raced down the Sylmar sideline. He juked a defender at the Van Nuys 35 and raced away for his third score.