SYLMAR : City Council Honors Football Champions

The Sylmar High football team slam-danced with the good, the bad and the ugly this season on its way to a 14-0 record and its second City 4-A Division championship in three seasons.

On Friday morning, members of the team, Coach Jeff Engilman and school administrators stood before the Los Angeles City Council to accept certificates of appreciation.

To Engilman, for whom this was the fourth city championship and his second as coach of Sylmar, it was a moment to cherish.

“The first championship here, that was special,” Engilman said. “This second one, it was a thrill, it was great. Because of the problems, the championship is just more gratifying. The kids feel it too. Each of them set personal goals; each of them reached those goals.”

The balance of their winning season hinged on an overtime quarterfinal playoff victory over Banning High in November. Sylmar overcame a 21-point deficit and six turnovers to win the game with a scrimmage-line stand on Banning’s 49-yard line in a California tiebreaker.

The tiebreaker format is used in all playoff games in the state. Play begins at the 50-yard line and teams alternate possession for eight plays. The winner is the team that penetrates the opponent’s territory after the eight plays.

To win the championship, the Spartans overcame more than their section rivals. Before the playoff with Banning, the team faced expulsion from the league after a reserve linebacker’s eligibility was investigated by the City Section commissioner. The investigation was inconclusive, and Sylmar was allowed to continue playing.

Earlier in November, four Sylmar starters were suspended after a bench-clearing fight during a game against Poly. The team continued winning.

In September, the team was put on probation because Engilman conducted a passing scrimmage against Pierce College in Woodland Hills in August, a violation of two section rules. Engilman said he was unaware the scrimmage was against the rules.

And in June, two team members were among 18 male students arrested on suspicion of selling drugs in an undercover narcotics sweep at the school.

Asked how he overcame all the problems and managed to consistently motivate his team, Engilman, who has high blood pressure and says he’s unsure if he’ll return next year, talks about goals and hard work.

“Every teacher here will tell you, it’s not easy working with these kids,” he said.

Dan Wyatt, assistant principal in charge of athletics at Sylmar, said the entire faculty and student body is excited about the championship.

“We knew we had a good team, we just didn’t know how good,” he said. “It’s the kids and the coaches. They are dedicated, and that’s the difference.”