Palma football

Palma line coach Chris Dalman once told me 'I'll give you my playbook. You still have to figure out what I'm going to do and how to stop it.'
 Four opponents are still chasing Emilio Martinez's shadow.
 The senior tailback and Palma's all-time leader rusher has piled up 715 yards and 12 touchdowns in the teams first four games.
 Dating back to his sophomore year, Martinez has 16 games with over 100 yards rushing in 19 starts. He's scored a school record 45 touchdowns.
 Martinez rushed for 183 yards against reigning three-time Central Coast Section champion Aptos on Friday. He chalked up 225 yards against State Division III finalist Sacred Heart Prep.
 Four of his touchdowns have been of 35 yards or longer. Martinez runs angry, yet gracefully when a seam is created by an offensive line anchored by Stanford bound Drew Dalman.
 Martinez will be the first to tell you the offensive line is the catalyst to his success. When opponents are being pushed five yards downfield, openings occur.
 No one is going to argue that Martinez is the heartbeat of the offense. Yet, with opponents forced to focus on one individual, it's opening up the passing game for Zach Flores.
 Palma doesn't need to put on an aerial show to chase a title. But it has to be efficient if it wants to be chasing history in December.