Sylmar Feels Upset After Taking 6-0 Loss : High school football: Defending City 4-A Division champs stunned by El Camino Real.

For some El Camino Real High football players, it was the ultimate feat just three weeks into the season. For Sylmar, the defending City Section 4-A Division champion, it was nothing short of rock bottom.

El Camino Real mustered just enough offense and came up with a few big-time defensive plays in the waning minutes to fuel a 6-0 upset victory over Sylmar Thursday night in a nonleague game at Taft High.

“To beat last year’s City champs is a great boost for our kids,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said.

It is only the third time Sylmar has been shut out since Coach Jeff Engilman took over the program in 1987. To add grief to Engilman’s misery, 1992 4-A player of the year Tyrone Crenshaw reinjured the ankle he fractured last season midway through the fourth quarter.

El Camino Real (3-0) scored late in the third quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Chris Shinnick (19 carries, 81 yards). The extra-point kick attempt was blocked.

Holding the precarious lead, El Camino Real pushed the Spartans to inside the Sylmar five when Olumide Peters downed a punt with 7 minutes 16 seconds remaining. After an incomplete pass and a Crenshaw run for no gain, Dwight Patton carried for two yards on third and 12. Crenshaw, who was blocking for Patton, had his ankle stepped on was carried off the field a few minutes later.

Sylmar (1-1-1) punted but got the ball back with 2:06 left when Shinnick fumbled a pitch at the Sylmar 35.

Three Eddie Lopez passes fell incomplete, but on fourth and 10, Lopez hit receiver Patton in the right flat and Patton broke several tackles before being knocked out of bounds at the El Camino Real 35 with 1:07 left.

On the next play however, the Sylmar line collapsed, and Lopez was forced from the pocket. Lopez scrambled--carrying the ball like a handbag--and James Romero and Brain Tade stripped it from Lopez’s grasp. Michael Cooper fell on it in front of the El Camino Real sideline and the Conquistadores’ party began.

A year ago, Sylmar rolled for 517 yards and trounced the Conquistadores, 55-0. What a difference a year can make.

“We’re not playing good football,” Engilman said. “Not to take anything away from El Camino, because that’s a good football team. But we just didn’t stop them when we needed to.”