Sylmar Lets Walker, Lead Get Away, 28-21

For all but 8 minutes 24 seconds in Friday night’s nonleague showdown with Antelope Valley, the Sylmar High football team had done the improbable.

The Spartans had contained Tony Walker, Antelope Valley’s All-American-caliber all-purpose back. But in the end he couldn’t be stopped.

With the score tied midway through the fourth quarter, Walker ran 54 yards, for the decisive touchdown in Antelope Valley’s 28-21 victory.

And so went Sylmar’s hopes of upsetting the region’s No. 3-ranked team.

Walker finished with 72 yards in seven carries, but he had only one yard at halftime and Sylmar led, 21-13.

Fullback Gary Hardy’s 30-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third quarter put Antelope Valley (3-0) in position to tie, which it did when quarterback Justin Mobley passed to Hardy for two extra points.

At 21-21, Sylmar (1-2) sputtered.

The Spartans had first and goal at the Antelope nine-yard line and took a time out to make sure they were ready to retake the lead.

Then quarterback Chris Cervantes, who completed eight of 18 passes for 106 yards, fumbled and Antelope Valley’s Luis Vasquez recovered.

“We made too many mistakes,” Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman said. “You don’t fumble the ball when you’re going in for a touchdown.”

It took only three plays for Sylmar to take a 7-0 lead on the game’s first drive, which covered 55 yards. Tywane Patterson scored on a 41-yard pass play from Cervantes. Antelope Valley tied it in Eric Mobley’s two-yard run.

Cervantes added a four-yard scoring run and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Avalos to help Sylmar to its halftime lead.

Antelope Valley’s Justin Mobley threw a six-yard scoring pass to his brother, Eric, to keep the Antelopes close.