Bishop Amat Dominates Sylmar, 31-10

A high school football debate that had been brewing for more than 50 years was settled in only 10 minutes Friday night.

In that short span, La Puente Bishop Amat High scored 24 points on its way to a 31-10 victory over Sylmar in the inaugural California Interscholastic Federation/Reebok Bowl at Anaheim Stadium.

The convincing victory thus answers, at least for one year, a question that has been asked repeatedly since the Los Angeles City and Southern sections split in 1933: Which section has the best football team?

Top-ranked Bishop Amat, the Southern Section Division I champion, finished 15-0, establishing a state record for the most victories in a season. Several schools were tied with 14 victories, the most games allowed until this bowl was established.

Third-ranked Sylmar, the City Division 4-A titlist, ended the year 13-1, a disappointing finish to a season in which its average margin of victory was 27 points.

“I can’t take anything away from Bishop Amat, but we played a bad football game tonight,” said Jeff Engilman, Sylmar’s coach. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter that we went 13-0, people always remember how you did in the final game. This will leave a sour taste in our mouths.”

The game looked as if it would be a defensive struggle early on as the teams ended the first quarter in a 0-0 tie.

The momentum shifted in the second quarter, however, when Bishop Amat quarterback Mike Smith found sophomore receiver Daylon McCutcheon all alone on a 67-yard touchdown pass play to help give the Lancers a 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later, Smith struck again, this time a 49-yard touchdown pass play to senior Trevor Woods for a 14-0 lead.

Moments earlier, Bishop Amat was preparing to punt from its 34-yard line when George Guzman bobbled the snap. Unable to get off the kick, he turned the ball upfield for a 17-yard gain and a first down. One play later, Smith threw his second touchdown of the game.

“It was a bad snap, but a lot of teams this season thought that was our fake punt play,” said Guzman, who also starts at linebacker. “But when I couldn’t get the kick off, I just headed for the first down. I guess I have more speed than I thought.”

Things got worse for the Spartans. On their ensuing possession, running back Ibn Bilal fumbled on the first play at his 27.

Bishop Amat lineman Chris Gallardo recovered the ball, and the Lancers added their third touchdown three plays later on a Rodney Sermons’ nine-yard run.

The Lancers increased their lead to 24-0 when senior Jeff Banks kicked a 34-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining in the first half.

Sylmar, which had one first down and 13 total yards at halftime, never got on track. It managed 169 yards for the game, most coming in the fourth quarter against Bishop Amat reserves.

Smith, who completed nine of 16 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, was selected the player of the game. Sermons, who had 1,369 rushing yards entering the game, had 43 yards in 10 carries.

Spartans’ running back Tyrone Crenshaw, who averaged 140 yards a game this season, managed only 68 yards in 18 carries.

Although both teams seemed enthusiastic before kickoff, the future of the bowl is uncertain. The game became a reality when KCOP-TV, Channel 13, approached the CIF about televising the event live for a $50,000 rights fee.

Station officials signed a five-year contract for the game but can get out of the agreement if attendance and television ratings do not meet expectations.

Friday’s crowd of 8,132 was much lower than expected, and ratings won’t be available until Monday.

With no state playoff system, it has been difficult to pick the best team in the Southland. The bowl hoped to be the answer to that dilemma.