PREP FOOTBALL ’95 / VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : East Valley League : CITY SECTION

FACTS AND FIGURES: This league was definitely the tougher side of the conference last season, combining for 18 victories in 28 conference games. Sylmar, Reseda and Van Nuys each landed playoff berths and the Spartans completed a perfect season with a 38-6 rout of Crenshaw in the City Section 4-A Division championship game. . . . Sylmar has won 39 consecutive conference games since 1989 and again looks too tough for its counterparts. Senior running back Durell Price (6 feet 1, 215 pounds), touted by several national magazines as one of the premier players in the country, rushed for 1,936 yards and 21 touchdowns and had a 10.5 per-carry average. . . . Reseda senior lineman Ennis Davis (6-5, 300), an All-City selection, also is gaining attention from college recruiters. . . . Van Nuys Coach Mark Pomerantz has Oct. 20 circled on his calendar. That is the day the Wolves face Reseda, a team that has defeated Van Nuys the last three seasons by six points or less. . . . Canoga Park struggled offensively last season, but ranked No. 8 among 17 area City teams defensively.

LAST YEAR: Sylmar dominated its competition, posting six shutouts in 14 games and outscoring conference opponents, 341-36. Sylmar came back from a 21-point deficit in the first quarter against Banning in the quarterfinals to win, 28-27, in overtime. . . . Reseda was the top-seeded team in the Division 3-A playoffs, but lost to Birmingham, 22-6, in the first round.

KEY RETURNERS: Sylmar: Gerrod Taylor, running back; Kevin Brown, wide receiver; Rene Zavala, right tackle; Brandon Ortiz, center; Mario Uribe, guard. Reseda: Charles Shells, tailback; Tommy Gutierrez, quarterback. Van Nuys: John McPherson, running back; Kelly Hwang, lineman. Canoga Park: Raymar Adams, running back.

OUTLOOK: Sylmar should again romp through conference play and look for its fourth consecutive No. 1 seeding in the 4-A playoffs. . . . Reseda, the last team to defeat Sylmar in league play, has the best shot at knocking off the Spartans, but it’s a longshot. Last year’s score: Sylmar 20, Reseda 0.

1994 IN REVIEW*--*

League Overall School W L T W L T Sylmar 7 0 0 14 0 0 Reseda 6 1 0 7 4 0 Van Nuys 4 3 0 6 5 0 Canoga Park 1 6 0 1 9 0

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