The Cougars were the champions in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last fall, and they have since departed for a season in the BVAL's Santa Teresa Division.

Evergreen had been Prospect's nemesis on two fronts. First, the Cougars beat the Panthers 26-7 in the battle of the league's two undefeated teams to take the division championship. What's more, Evergreen matched that 6-0 varsity finish with a like finish in the frosh-soph division with another league crown.

The Cougars dominated the all-league team at the season's end, nine of them underclassmen who would return for the 2005 campaign.

Prospect, no doubt, is happy to see those returning all-leaguers move up a division, because the Panthers have a cast of four all-league returners who plan to lead Prospect in a run for the West Valley Division title.

Prospect, 5-1 in league play and 7-3 overall a year ago, returns as the favorite in the division race this season, thanks to the leadership of comeback all-leaguers Melvin Hutcherson, John Eseroma, Wilson Miller and Nick Nichols.

Hutcherson, just a junior, earned a place on the all-league first team as a sophomore for the Panthers. He returns as Prospect's top ball carrier this fall.

He will be running behind an offensive line anchored by a couple of all-league first team returners. Eseroma and Miller will lead the charge up front offensively for the Panthers.

Nichols should also see plenty of action in the Prospect backfield, but it's on defense where his presence will be felt the most. The senior is back after winning all-league second team honors as a linebacker.

He'll be joined backing up the defensive line by Eseroma, and Miller will serve double duty up front defensively. Hutcherson will play in the defensive secondary for the Panthers.

Prospect lost 16 seniors to graduation last spring, but 17 players on the club's roster last fall were underclassmen, including sophomores Hutcherson and running back/linebacker Kyle Koke.

Prospect also figures to get some help from players coming up from a frosh-soph team that posted a 4-2 record to finish third in the division behind Evergreen Valley and San Jose Academy. Evergreen, of course, is gone to another division. San Jose is coming off of a 1-7 (1-5 in league) season and had just one all-league returner--senior linebacker Joe Escobar, who won a spot on the second team last season.

The up and coming Panthers have some big shoes to fill with senior all-leaguers J.P. Nation, Kenny Strickland, Daniel Jennings, Scott Skinner and Troy Varanchodom all lost to graduation.

Prospect will open the 2005 season at home against Sequoia on Sept. 9, 3:30 p.m. The Panthers will then face Lynbrook, Monta Vista and Santa Teresa in non-league games before opening the West Valley Division season on Oct. 7 at Andrew Hill. The Falcons are coming down from the Santa Teresa Division where they finished 0-6 last year, 1-9 overall.

KEY RETURNERS

Melvin Hutchinson, Jr., RB/DB

John Eseroma, Sr., OL/LB

Wilson Miller, Sr., OL/DL

Nick Nichols, Sr., RB/LB

PROSPECT 2005
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 9, Sequoia, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 16, Lynbrook, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23, at Monta Vista, 3:15 p.m.

Oct. 1, Santa Teresa, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 7, at Andrew Hill, 3:30 p.m.*

Oct. 14, Overfelt, 3:30 p.m.*

Oct. 21, Yerba Buena, 7:15 p.m.*

Oct. 28, at San Jose, 3:30 p.m.*

Nov. 4, at Del Mar, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 10, James Lick, 2:45 p.m.*

*Denotes Blossom Valley Athletic League West
Valley Division game