Brookins Boosts Sylmar to 42-0 Win but Agonizes Over Coach’s Criticism

Sylmar High’s Tobaise Brookins eluded tacklers effortlessly Friday, making Grant’s defense seem invisible. But when the game ended, it was Brookins who wanted to disappear.

Brookins sparked visiting Sylmar to a 42-0 victory in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game, then fought back tears after the game.

Brookins rushed for 126 yards and three short-yardage touchdowns in 17 carries but was chastised by Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman before being pulled in the third quarter.

“I thought I played pretty well,” Brookins said. “I don’t want to second-guess his opinion. If he says I ran (poorly), then he’s right. I’ll do better next week.”

Engilman said the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior is a perfectionist and was more upset about his performance than anything the coach had said.

“Toby is his (own) worst critic,” Engilman said. “Some guys would ignore their mistakes and be happy with a performance that Toby had. But Toby, his performance was not up to what he expects of himself.

“Toby has the speed to be an (NCAA) Division I running back, but he wasn’t hitting the holes fast enough. I’m looking down the road and I know that Toby has to run harder if we’re going to beat teams like Banning or Carson in the playoffs.”

Brookins’ performance spotlighted a Spartan ground game that rang up 212 yards in 32 carries for a 6.6-yard average.

Sylmar, which improved to 4-1, 3-0 in conference play, capitalized on two interceptions to take a 28-0 halftime lead over Grant (2-4, 1-2).

First, outside linebacker George Brazil intercepted a pitch from Grant quarterback Roy Rodriguez and ran 72 yards for a touchdown. Then safety Brian Roberson intercepted a Rodriguez pass and Brookins scored two plays later on a three-yard run with just under seven minutes left in the half.