Sobrato is in a position it hasn’t enjoyed: Sitting atop the division.
Tied with Evergreen Valley for first place, the Bulldogs are enjoying a level of success that has really only been rivaled by deep runs into the playoffs.
Up next is a team that could give Sobrato fits if the Bulldogs don’t come out ready to play. Kickoff is 7 p.m. in San Jose.
Prospect sits at 2-1 in West Valley Division play having upended James Lick and Andrew Hill.
The Panthers played a tough non-league schedule, and took their lumps as a result. But despite sitting at 2-4 overall, coach Tony Holmes expects a team that is going to force his boys to stick to the fundamentals if they expect to win.
“For us we have to stay vigilant. We have to make sure we are assignment sound,” Holmes said. “We have to stay with what goals are and game plan is.”
Holmes expects to see a heavy dose of runningback Nate Nathanson as well as quarterback Marvin Anthony Escobar, who recently rejoined the team after a couple of weeks off the field.
Holmes said Prospect likes to spread you out and then come right at you.
He said they may try to throw some trickery at you and that his boys need to read their keys and take control of the line of scrimmage early.
“We have to play disciplined football. I don’t think they’re going to be as physical up front as we’ve seen in last few games, but don’t count out.”
Defensively, Holmes said Prospect does a good job of rallying to the ball.
“They pursue to ball pretty well,” Holmes said. “I do like the fact they gang tackle. There’s always three to five guys going to the football on any given play. We just need to put more bodies out there and aggressive bodies at point of attack.”
Sobrato looking out for two big milestones in the game, one that should happened Friday night and one that could happen with a breakout performance.
John Bell and Jarod Jones are both in striking distance of 1,000 yards passing and rushing, respectively. Bell needs just 16 yards to hit the milestone. Jones is 216 away from his.
Jones does have two 200-plus yard games this season.
Ultimately, however, Holmes said what matters is getting out there and executing Friday night.
“We have no wiggle room for error. This has to be perfect,” Holmes said. “There is no let a team beat us and hope they lose to another team to get us back in first.”
