Sylmar Back Crenshaw Played on Ankle Fractured in 2nd Game

Tyrone Crenshaw spends a lot of time these days wondering what might have been.

Imagine, the Sylmar High tailback rushed for 1,875 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead all area City Section backs this season, compiling most of those statistics on a fractured ankle. Crenshaw, a junior who helped lead Sylmar (13-1) to its first City 4-A Division title, suffered what was believed to be a severely sprained right ankle in the Spartans’ second game. The ankle was bandaged before each game and Crenshaw continued to play. And excel.

“It hurt every time I made a cut,” Crenshaw said. “I couldn’t run (outside) that well.”

He remained in the lineup, however, and tried several remedies to halt the pain. In fact, Crenshaw underwent acupuncture treatment before Sylmar’s 31-10 loss to Bishop Amat in the CIF/Reebok Bowl game Dec. 18.

Crenshaw discovered last week he had a fracture just above the right ankle and was fitted for a hard cast. It now appears that a small fracture suffered in the second game worsened as the season progressed, Crenshaw said.

Even so, you can’t keep a good man down. Although he will wear the cast for three more weeks, Crenshaw expects to participate in the football 40-yard dash in the Sunkist Invitational indoor track and field meet Feb. 20 at the Sports Arena.