Sylmar Goes Out Quietly

It was quite possibly the final Sylmar High football game the fiery Jeff Engilman will ever coach.

It certainly wasn’t pretty, and it most definitely wasn’t vintage Engilman.

Sylmar, plagued by five turnovers, was upset by Narbonne, 28-13, Friday in a first-round game of the City Section 4-A Division playoffs at Sylmar.

“What a way to go out,” muttered a surprisingly calm Engilman, who hinted that he’s ready to call it quits.

The No. 5-seeded Spartans (8-3), who haven’t lost a first-round playoff game since 1989, sputtered offensively after the first series and may have hit the panic button one series too soon.

With Sylmar trailing, 21-13, and 10 minutes 24 seconds to play, Engilman, always the aggressive gambler, opted to go for it on fourth and six at the Sylmar 47-yard line.

Chris Cervantes’ pass--intended for tight end Jose Ochoa--was knocked down by Sidney Smith, who had two interceptions, just as it reached Ochoa.

Despite the outcome, Engilman said he would do it again.

“I knew if they got the ball, with their type of offense, they’d run out the clock,” he said.

Actually the Gauchos (7-4) ran for another touchdown. Three plays after Narbonne got the ball back, quarterback Damiean Johnson scored on a two-yard keeper to give his team a commanding 28-13 lead.

The Spartans turned the ball over on their final two possessions--on an interception and a fumble.

The bright spot for Sylmar was junior running back Donald Carpenter, who rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries. With 1,004 yards, the transfer from Taft becomes becomes the 12th runner in Engilman’s 11 seasons to rush for more than 1,000 in a season.

Cervantes had three passes intercepted in the first half and Narbonne converted all three into touchdowns for a 21-7 halftime lead.

Cervantes had thrown only one interception in 145 attempts before the game.