Sylmar Advances to Final : City playoffs: Price and Crenshaw pace a 27-7 victory over Garfield in the 4-A.

Garfield High used a ball control approach to upset Banning in the City Section 4-A football playoffs last week, but there was no controlling Sylmar quarterback Deon Price or running back Tyrone Crenshaw during host Sylmar’s 27-7 victory Friday night.

Surprising Garfield (8-5) by varying its normal conservative, run-oriented approach, Sylmar (12-0) came out passing. Price completed his first eight attempts for 98 yards, guiding the Spartans to a 13-7 halftime lead. Price also ran for two touchdowns, one in each half.

“Once I completed a few passes, it was what I needed,” Price said. “My confidence went way up.”

Crenshaw did his part, rushing for 170 yards in 22 carries and sealing the victory midway through the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run.

“I’m going to go home to night and cry because I’m so happy,” Crenshaw said of a victory that sent Sylmar into the City championship game next week against Carson.

Garfield struck on the game’s opening possession, taking advantage of 30 yards in Sylmar penalties and a 33-yard run by Armando Figueroa to move to the Spartan nine. Figueroa, who gained 96 yards in 17 carries, ran off tackle to make the score 7-0 with 8:08 to play in the first quarter.

Sylmar came right back to tie the score, driving 57 yards in eights plays behind Price and Crenshaw. Price completed three consecutive passes during the drive and Crenshaw ran the final eight yards with 4:35 left in the quarter.

From there, the Garfield offense could do little against Sylmar’s defense, which held the Bulldogs to only 10 total yards the remainder of the half.

Sylmar went ahead midway through the second quarter when a 39-yard play-action pass from Price to Tyrone Pierce and an 11-yard run by Ibn Bilal set up Price’s five-yard option run for a 13-7 halftime lead.

The Spartans regained control on their first drive of the second half, taking a 19-7 lead when Crenshaw scored from the two to end an eight-play, 80-yard march.

Sylmar scored its final touchdown when Price finished off a 61-yard drive with a four-yard keeper.