CITY SECTION ROUNDUP : Price, Sylmar Outrun Grant

The panic button is still safely under lock and key, but Sylmar High has reason for concern. For the second week in a row, the second-ranked Spartans played an unspectacular first half, this time against winless Grant.

And, again, it didn’t matter. Sylmar won the Valley Pac-8 Conference game, 42-7, Friday behind Durell Price’s 144 yards and five touchdowns in 13 carries.

Sylmar (9-0, 6-0 in conference play) was hurt by two first-half fumbles and Grant’s Olando Enoex, who returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.

“I don’t know if it was [lack of] intensity or getting used to playing in the sun, but we were drained and dehydrated,” said Price, who had three second-half touchdowns.

Sylmar, which plays at Monroe next week for the conference title, led, 21-7, at the half.

“I thought we learned our lesson last week,” said captain Rene Zavala, referring to the Spartans’ 27-24 squeaker over North Hollywood last week. “I think we take these teams too lightly.”

Chris Cervantes completed seven of 10 passes for 126 yards, and Gerrod Taylor rushed for 83 yards in nine carries for Sylmar. Price has a region-high 27 rushing touchdowns.

Luis Escamilla had 51 yards in nine carries for Grant (0-9, 0-6), which gained 86 of its 123 yards in the first half.