Prospect enters its third game week of the season still looking for its first win, facing a Cupertino team which has won two straight, both by large margins.
The visiting Pioneers cruised past Lynbrook last week, after an impressive win over Monta Vista in the previous game. Cupertino ran just 30 plays from scrimmage in last week's 56-7 win over Lynbrook, a game in which they led 49-0 at halftime, getting three first-half touchdowns on the ground from senior running back Joseph Wilson. The Pioneers also scored twice on defense in last Friday's victory, as both Wilson and Zach Apostolo returned interceptions for touchdowns.
Diego Zamora has been the usual workhorse for Cupertino in the backfield, with 31 carries for 271 yards and four scores in the first three games, and he needed just five carries last week to rack up 86 yards. Wilson forms the other half of a strong duo in the backfield, part of a rushing attack which has averaged six yards per carry so far this season.
Prospect, meanwhile, will look for continued growth from junior quarterback Jacob Sneed. After a rough outing in the Panthers' season-opening loss to Santa Clara, Sneed made significant strides during a close 16-12 loss to Westmont. The junior threw for 131 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Warriors, with senior Conor Messier emerging as a go-to target.
Defensively, Prospect will need a strong effort from senior nose guard Declan Wirnowski in order to hold the front line against the Cupertino run game, and free up linebacker Chad Howle to make plays. Adrien Andrade and Joseph Abitago are also key players up front for the Panthers.
These teams have played in each of the last five years, with Cupertino winning all five meetings. None of the games have been decided by fewer than 18 points, including last year's 42-20 win for the Pioneers.
