Sylmar’s Record Nears a League of Its Own

Sylmar High’s football team has a chance to make history Friday night when the Spartans play host to Van Nuys in a Valley Mission League game.

Sylmar has won 68 consecutive league games, tying the state record held by Salinas Palma. Concord De La Salle has a national-record 94-game winning streak, but its league winning streak was put on hold at 62 when the Spartans began playing as an independent.

Sylmar, which has produced players such as UCLA fullback Durell Price, Washington linebacker Derrell Daniels and Colorado State tight end Jose Ochoa, tied the record last Friday with a 48-28 victory over Monroe.

“Those guys tell us to keep the tradition going,” said Clifford Johnson, a three-year starter for the Spartans at wide receiver and defensive back. “That’s why this streak is very important to us. We don’t want to be the ones to see it end.”

Sylmar’s streak began in 1989. The league competition the Spartans faced through the years paled in comparison to the rugged Southern Pacific Conference, but the Spartans were regarded as formidable nonetheless and won City Section titles in 1992 and ’94 under Coach Jeff Engilman.

This year, Sylmar (4-2 overall, 1-0 league) was put in the Valley Mission League as part of the section’s overall realignment. The City switched its 49 schools from a six-conference configuration to eight leagues.

Last week against Monroe, running back David Contreras gained 189 yards and scored three touchdowns and quarterback John Valdez completed 10 of 11 passes for 156 yards for Sylmar, which scored on its first seven possessions.

Sylmar is expected to break the state record Friday against struggling Van Nuys (1-5, 0-1), which has been outscored, 180-35, this season.

Sylmar’s streak, however, could be in danger when the Spartans play San Fernando (6-0, 1-0) in the season finale Nov. 12 at Sylmar.