Avalos, Sylmar Do It Again

The rematch wasn’t close.

Shaun Avalos intercepted three passes and caught a touchdown pass to help lift Sylmar High to a 51-8 decision over Canoga Park Friday in a City Section 4-A Division first-round playoff game at Sylmar.

During the regular season, Canoga Park took the Spartans down to the wire before losing, 26-18, in what was a one-point game with three minutes remaining.

It was over early the second time around.

Avalos, who entered the game tied for the region lead with eight interceptions, picked off a Mike Spangle pass midway through the first quarter. That led to a six-play, 54-yard scoring drive, capped by Donald Carpenter’s 18-yard touchdown run that put Sylmar up, 7-0.

The Spartans (10-1) increased their lead to 21-0 midway through the second quarter when Noah Albiston connected with Avalos on a 22-yard scoring pass play.

Avalos’ second interception opened another Sylmar scoring drive, with Errol Bowen finished it off with a three-yard touchdown run just before halftime.

Avalos intercepted a third pass, this one from John Hernandez, and returned it 75 yards for the final score.

Canoga Park (7-4), which was held to 54 yards, got on the scoreboard when John Laungnam caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hernandez.