It was a hard-to-predict showdown between Westmont and Prospect Friday night as both teams had yet to win a non-league game. However, Westmont's speedy offense including running backs Tommy Ly and Matt Salangsang were the difference as the Warriors prevailed 48-13.
Prospect swiftly took the upper hand in the first quarter when Westmont fumbled and Prospect lineman James Hayes recovered and ran 18 yards for the score to make it 7-0 with 10:20 left. However, the Warriors answered this with a 4-yard touchdown run by Salangsang, tying the score at 7-7.
Ly continued to lead the Warriors with runs that pushed deep into Prospect's territory, leading to touchdown runs of 40- and 64-yards by Salangsang and Ly, respectively. The Warriors ended the first quarter with a 20-7 lead.
“(Ly) played well for us," Westmont coach Eric Braun said. "He works hard. For a little guy, he brings a lot of heart, a lot of energy, so it was nice to see him get in the end zone a little bit. He ran well."
Westmont kept up the momentum with a 66-yard touchdown down the left sideline by receiver Michael Nadew with 1:41 left to go. Then Ly -- with mere seconds left -- scored another touchdown on a 4-yard run, giving the Warriors a 34-7 cushion over the Panthers.
Prospect scored its second and final touchdown, in the fourth quarter, with a 10-yard run down the right side. But with 6:23 left to go, Westmont responded with a 35-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline from quarterback Trevor Flint to wide receiver Sean Marsland.
The Warriors (2-1) capped the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run by running back Mark Derobertis.
“Zero and two—we needed to get a win and get us feeling good about ourselves. Getting a win going into league is always a positive thing,” Braun said.
While some key players such as Ly — who rushed for 256 yards and scored two touchdowns -- contributed to Westmont's success, teamwork was at the root of the Warrior success.
“(Our) important strategy is definitely brotherhood," running back Jakob Good said. "We work together as a family, and we link together. We definitely worked well that game more than any other game, and I'm really proud of it."
Next up for Westmont is its rivalry game with host Lincoln (7 p.m. kickoff Friday), but the Warriors need a good week of practice before that, Braun said.
“We have a lot of inexperienced guys and the idea that you've got to play championship ball every single day at practice is the key,” he said.
Prospect (0-3) hosts Yerba Buena (0-3), also at 7 p.m. Friday.
