Sylmar Might Not Be Fit for a Tie

Sylmar High will try to tie a state record Friday night in its Valley Mission League opener against Monroe.

The Spartans have won 67 consecutive league games dating to 1989. The record is 68 by Salinas Palma, which had its streak end this season in a Monterey Bay League opener.

Concord De La Salle has won 93 games in a row, including 62 in league play, but is no longer affiliated with a league.

City Section releaguing could make it more difficult for Sylmar (3-2) to extend the streak. The first-year Valley Mission includes Monroe, San Fernando and Reseda, all 5-0, Kennedy (3-2) and Van Nuys (1-4).

Although Monroe has been knocked around by Sylmar every year during the streak, the Vikings are improved under first-year Coach Chris Richards.

Sylmar, which played a much more difficult nonleague schedule than Monroe, is considered the favorite.

“[The streak] is nice, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t,” said Jeff Engilman, who has been the Sylmar coach since 1987. “It would be nice to finish the ‘90s without a league loss. This will be the hardest year of all.”

Palma, a longtime Central Coast Section power under Coach Norm Costa, has won 15 consecutive league titles. This team is talented but star running back Michael Sparks missed the league opener against Hollister with an injury and Palma (4-1) was defeated, 14-7.

“It meant something to me and my coaches, but some of the kids didn’t even know about [the streak],” Costa said.

Engilman sees an eerie parallel. David Contreras, Sylmar’s senior tailback who has rushed for 784 yards, will play against Monroe despite injuring a shoulder against Chatsworth last Friday. He was cleared to play Tuesday.

In addition, center Billy Truax is out because of a knee injury, guard Richard Del Gaudio has an elbow injury and fullback Isidro Medina is in Mexico on a family emergency.

“We are really banged up,” Engilman said. “I told the team this might be our most difficult league game in 10 years.”