Victorious Sylmar Vindicated : Prep football: Defense prevails in 17-0 win as undefeated Spartans find respect and a 4-A title.

Ludicrous. Crazy. Simply too much.

Why would an undefeated football team playing for a City Section 4-A Division championship title feel it had something to prove?

Sylmar High received the top seeding in the playoffs, but the Spartans felt they had not received appropriate recognition. They still felt like underdogs.

Perhaps perennial power Carson, seeded second, saw it that way too. But, regardless of what the Colts were thinking before Saturday’s 4-A final at El Camino College, they were thinking something else entirely at its end.

Sylmar not only beat Carson, 17-0, the Spartans did the unthinkable. They handed Carson, an eight-time 4-A champion, its first shutout loss since 1980, a span of 157 games.

It was Sylmar’s relentless defense that put an end to Carson’s amazing streak before 7,421 witnesses and gave the Spartans their fifth shutout this season.

The Spartans (13-0), who will face Bishop Amat in the CIF/Reebok Bowl on Friday at Anaheim Stadium, forced four Carson turnovers, capitalizing on two.

Anthony Murray, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior inside linebacker, recovered a fumble inside the Spartans’ 30 on Carson’s opening drive. Murray was a menace to the Colts (9-4-1), collecting a game-high seven tackles and one sack.

But he was only one of 11 to cause problems for Carson’s high-powered run-and-shoot offense. Senior outside linebackers Tyrone Pierce and George Brazil were equally impressive, combining for eight tackles and two assists.

Carson quarterback Jamie Sander, who started the game as the City’s leading passer with 2,488 yards and 21 touchdowns, had little time to throw. He was sacked three times--twice by Pierce--and was held to well below his average. He completed 12 of 23 passes for only 104 yards and threw two interceptions. Five of his passes were knocked down.

In the second quarter of a scoreless game, junior defensive back Tyrone Crenshaw intercepted a Sander pass at Carson’s 26. On the next play, Crenshaw went off tackle and bolted 74 yards to give Sylmar a 7-0 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Sylmar strong safety Gabriel Rodriguez made a diving interception at the Sylmar 45 in what was probably the game-clincher.

It also helped send a message.

“It’s a big day for Valley football,” Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman said. “Our kids played well. They really prepared well. I can’t say enough. This is a smart football team.”

* SYLMAR LAUGHS LONGEST: Spartans are first undefeated City 4-A titlists since 1980. C1