Karren, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, enters the fall campaign with two years of varsity experience and is a returning all-leaguer. He's one of three returning seniors at Prospect who have logged two years of varsity play on their football resumes.

In the football industry, experience can give a team just the edge it needs in a close game. And Karren, Scott Skinner (5-foot-10, 185) and J.P. Nation (5-foot-10, 245) should provide Prospect with that senior leadership.

Karren will be a major player on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end, but his job will not end there. In addition to keeping containment, Karren will also be throwing blocks and chasing down some passes as a tight end. And when the time comes, he will be the one to put the ball through the uprights for those extra points and field goals.

Skinner is another player with a good deal of varsity experience under his belt. Skinner will be taking the ball and running with it quite literally as a running back this fall. And when he isn't running the ball he will be chasing it as a linebacker. With all the time he has spent on the field and his talent, Skinner is a player to watch this coming season.

The last returning three-year varsity player Nation, who will be a pillar of strength on the offensive line. When the Panthers don't have the ball, Nation will switch to the other side and establish himself as a defensive power on the D-line.

Kevin Ballard (5-foot-10, 275) is a junior joining the varsity unit for the first time this fall. Ballard will be doing his best to protect the football as a part of the O-line and he will do his best to keep that ball from moving as a member of the defensive line as well. Ballard may not have the varsity experience as some of the other players, but he is definitely a prospect for the Panthers.

John Eseroma (5-foot-11, 265) has a year of varsity time and will be joining Ballard on the O-line and Skinner roaming the middle of the field as a linebacker.

Along with the native Prospect players, the Panthers also picked up a transfer from Valley Christian who should be a cornerstone of the offense. Melvin Hutcherson (5-foot-10, 180) is a sophomore who will have his hands full with older players, but is equal to the task. Hutcherson will be carrying the ball on offense and knocking it down as a defensive back.

Wilson Miller and Jack Tran will be new additions to the varsity this year as upcoming juniors who intend to take over the offensive line. Together the two young men were the cornerstones of the junior varsity line and Prospect hopes they will deliver again as varsity athletes.

Prospect is coming off a less than great season last year and will do its best to improve their record. Having won their last league crown in 2000, the Panthers hope to add their next title in 2004.

"What we have here is a group of kids who have made the commitment to spring and summer workout," said first-year head coach Carlos Boles, for many years the varsity baseball coach at Prospect. "It has made the difference in where we are today."

"Kenny Strickland, Elvy Harris Jr., Trevor Staten , Daniel Huskin-Jones and Troy Varanchodom are expected to make big plays for this team," he added.

Prospect has more than just one transfer this fall. They acquired line coach Mike Bonds, who spent 10 years coaching at Los Gatos High School and, according to Boles, "he will make all the difference for Prospect."

The Panthers lost their season opener 18-9 to The King's Academy last weekend, and will head to Sequoia High School in Redwood City on Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m., in search of their first win of the season. Prospect opens Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division play on Oct. 1 at home against Evergreen Valley.