Brookins Leads Sylmar to 34-13 Win

Birmingham High was no match for Sylmar without its starting quarterback Friday night.

Vince Lampkin, who had burned Sylmar for a 68-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, left with an ankle injury midway through the first quarter, allowing Sylmar’s Tobaise Brookins to steal the show.

Brookins, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, rushed for 221 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the host Spartans to a 34-13 victory in an East Valley League game.

The victory enabled Sylmar (7-1, 6-0) to clinch a share of its second consecutive league title, and ensured the Spartans of being the league’s top-seeded team for the City Section 4-A Division playoffs. Birmingham (7-1, 5-1) will face Poly next week to determine the league’s second-seeded team.

Lampkin’s quick touchdown--he raced down the left sideline untouched--got Sylmar’s attention in a hurry.

“That opening salvo definitely woke us up a bit,” Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman said. “It was a fantastic run.”

On Sylmar’s second play after the ensuing kickoff, Brookins fumbled and Birmingham’s Maziyar Saberi recovered on Sylmar’s 22.

But Birmingham blew its chance to score again when Turnell Dewalt intercepted a Lampkin pass at the goal line and returned it to Sylmar’s 26.

Things darkened for Birmingham when Lampkin, the team’s leading rusher, went down with a twisted left ankle during the Braves’ next series. Lampkin iced the ankle until halftime and had hopes of returning in the second half, but Coach Chick Epstein kept Lampkin sidelined.

The Birmingham offense sputtered after Lampkin left, setting the stage for a one-man show by Brookins, who scored on runs of seven, nine, 13 and 46 yards, and caught two passes for 40 yards.

Sylmar wide receiver Brian Roberson gave a fine supporting performance. Roberson made two diving catches and intercepted a pass.