HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Monroe Relies on Big Plays to Overcome Sylmar, 14-10

In the end, one of the few statistics that favored Monroe was the only one that mattered--the final score.

Monroe, outgained in total offense and its passing game rendered ineffective, used a pair of big plays to upstage Sylmar, 14-10, in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Sylmar on Friday night.

Curtis Scott broke 5 tackles and ran 93 yards for a touchdown with 6:17 left in the third quarter to give Monroe a 14-7 lead, and the Vikings recovered a fumble with 45 seconds left to preserve the victory.

“We just made the big plays when we had to,” said Scott, who rushed for a season-high 208 yards in 24 carries. “We just told ourselves we could beat these guys.”

Scott’s rushing helped Monroe (4-1, 3-0 in conference play) offset a passing game that netted just 1 completion for 6 yards. Sylmar (3-2, 2-1) outgained Monroe in total offense, 283-223.

Monroe opened the scoring when Terry London returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown with 7:04 remaining in the first quarter.

It was London’s second touchdown on a punt return this season. He returned one 80 yards for a score against North Hollywood 2 weeks ago.

Monroe’s lead was short-lived, however, as Sylmar’s Jerome Casey, who finished with 177 yards in 26 carries, ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 5:16 left in the first half to tie the score.