Brewster Makes Case for Football

During the summer, when Jonathon Brewster of Notre Dame High was trying to play football, basketball and baseball at the same time, it became almost laughable as he changed uniforms faster than Clark Kent.

Then came the questions: Is he a better quarterback, a better point guard or a better shortstop?

On Friday night, his athleticism helped Notre Dame upset Sylmar, 22-19, in its season football opener, as Brewster threw two touchdown passes to Todd Fenton, including the game-winning 17-yard pass with 4:44 left.

“It feels so awesome,” said Brewster, a junior who completed six of 11 passes for 88 yards. “No one gave us a chance. No one thought we could win because we don’t have [Justin] Fargas.”

Brewster is the third member of his family to make major contributions for the Knights. Brother Scott was a star wide receiver for the 1985 team and is now a doctor. Brother Robbie was a wide receiver for Notre Dame’s 1994 Southern Section championship team.

Brewster displayed great poise for someone making his first varsity start at quarterback.

“It was my first time,” he said. “I had to get into a groove.”’

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Notre Dame has an outstanding junior class, many of whom got varsity experience as sophomores last season.

None was more impressive than defensive tackle Travis Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 270-pounder who had two sacks, forced a fumble and batted down a pass. Defensive end Alec Moss forced an interception, recovered a fumble and made a sack. They were a two-man wrecking crew.

Another junior, Matt Lutz, returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown.

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Making his varsity debut at tailback for Sylmar was David Contreras, a junior who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in just six games for the freshman-sophomore team last season.

The 5-foot-9 Contreras is the nephew of former Sylmar All-City linebacker Albert Contreras.

“He’s a little rock,” Spartan Coach Jeff Engilman said.

“He has a lot of determination.”

Contreras rushed for 114 yards in 24 carries and gave Sylmar a 19-14 lead with 7:02 left on a one-yard touchdown run.