Strategy Leaves Leonard on the Run

Matt Leonard, Palmdale High’s talented 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive end, has intimidated some opponents this season into changing game plans and running to the opposite side of the field.

Not Antelope Valley.

“We’re not going to change a thing,” Coach Brent Newcomb said before Friday night’s game against Palmdale. “Plan A is to run right at [Leonard]. Of course, if that doesn’t work, we’ll resort to Plan B, which is running away from him.”

Nobody home: The Burroughs-Valencia football game was important in terms of who will make the playoffs from the Foothill League, but you wouldn’t know it by the sparse crowd Friday at Burroughs High.

The Burroughs band, complete with costumed tubas and base drums, outnumbered the fans. An official count was not available, but estimates put the crowd at less than 500.

Homecoming: Former Sylmar High running back Durell Price was at Monroe for the Sylmar-Monroe game on Friday.

Price, who plays fullback for UCLA, did not travel with the Bruins for their game today at Stanford because he has been slowed by a sprained ankle.

Price, the two-time City Section 4-A Division player of the year, was happy where he was--in the stands.

“[Coach Jeff Engilman] is doing all right,” said Price at halftime, with Sylmar holding a 28-0 lead. “He doesn’t need me right now.”

The Spartans won, 28-0.

New job: Sylmar fullback/linebacker Angel Guerrero was suspended for the Monroe game for disciplinary reasons, Engilman said.

His replacement at fullback was a familiar face: Running back Donald Carpenter.

“It’s a new position for him, so you might see some mistakes,” Engilman said.

Carpenter missed a few blocks, but was still effective running the ball.