Sylmar Silences the Laughter : Prep football: Undefeated Spartans beat Carson, 17-0, to win the City 4-A Division title.

Throughout an undefeated regular season, Sylmar High wanted to be known as the city’s best team.

However, the Spartans knew that the respect they desired would not come unless they won the City 4-A Division title, which they did Saturday, 17-0, over Carson before an estimated 5,000 at El Camino College.

Sylmar (13-0) will play La Puente Bishop Amat, Southern Section Division I champion, next Friday night in the first CIF/Reebok Bowl at Anaheim Stadium.

“When we came out at first, they (Carson) were laughing at us,” Sylmar running back Ibon Bilal said. “They didn’t seem to respect us at all, but toward the end they did.”

In becoming the first undefeated team to win the City 4-A Division title since Wilmington Banning in 1980, Sylmar also dealt Carson its first shutout in 12 years.

Sylmar held the Colts’ quarterback, Jamie Sander, to 12 completions in 23 passes for 104 yards and two interceptions.

“I don’t know why we didn’t play well,” Sander said, “because they really didn’t give us any problems.”

Carson (9-4-1) got a 64-yard run by Robert Johnson on its second play from scrimmage. But Sander fumbled while trying to hand off on Sylmar’s 28-yard line on the next play.

After an interception by Tyrone Crenshaw during the second quarter, the Spartans scored.

Crenshaw, who led the City in rushing with 1,693 yards, took a handoff from Deon Price and went 74 yards to give Sylmar a 7-0 lead.

“At that point in the game, I was just trying to make something happen,” said Crenshaw, who finished with 114 yards in 21 carries.

“I knew that we had them then,” Price said. “They were arguing and stuff and had their heads down, while we had our heads up.”

After Sylmar’s Robert Camacho intercepted a pass to end the third quarter, he kicked a 36-yard field goal, his first of the season, for a 10-0 lead.

Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman then surprised the Colts with an on-side kick that was recovered by the Spartans’ James Seidler.

Sylmar did not score on that possession, but did with 34 seconds to play. Bilal, who finished with 121 yards in eight carries, scored on a 65-yard run.

Sylmar has won 23 of its last 24 games, its loss coming against Dorsey in last year’s semifinals.

“I think we were not only playing for the City championship,” Engilman said, “we were also playing for respect for (San Fernando) Valley teams all over.”

Can Sylmar beat Bishop Amat?

Carson linebacker James Pepe, whose Colts lost to Bishop Amat to begin the season, said he thinks so.

“I would give the edge to Sylmar,” he said. “But I won’t be rooting for them.”

But he will respect them.