Palma football

 No one could have imagined in August that a team in transition would be 8-0 in November.
 Maybe you still look at the Chieftains and don't believe your eyes.
 It's not a mirage.
 Palma is chasing perfection in the Gabilan Division for the third straight year, having yet to taste defeat since the league was formed in 2012.
 Yet, it's more than that for Palma, who has already sealed its 30th straight postseason appearance.
 The Chieftains are winning games by making plays when it counts -- on both sides of the ball.
 A defense, anchored by Eduardo Barbosa, is putting up numbers comparable to the CCS title teams of 2001 and 2002.
 The offense has a sophomore tailback in Emilio Martinez who is on pace to shatter the single-season school rushing record behind a young, but gifted offensive line.
 What we forget is continuity in the program comes from a coaching staff that has mostly remained intact for 15 years when Jeff Carnazzo arrived.
 Systems work when they're in place. Oh, there are always subtle changes based on personnel. But the structure of the program is what separates Palma from others.