St. Francis-Palma football

Friday's game
St. Francis (1-0) vs. Palma (0-1) at Rabobank, 7:30 p.m.
 For the second straight week, the Chieftains are facing a team that played beyond their section title game, lining up against a St. Francis program that came within three points of a state title.
 The two teams have met nine times in the last seven years - including twice in the postseason - with Palma holding a 5-3-1 advantage over the West Catholic Athletic League powers.
 "They are big and strong and powerful in the trenches,'' Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said. "They have a stable of backs and receivers that are DI talented.''
 St. Francis opened the season by avenging a section title game loss to Oak Grove 24-7 while Palma was outscored 45-3 during one stretch in a 52-31 loss to Sutter.
 Emilio Martinez went over 100 yards rushing for the 13th time in 19 career starts. Before dropping its last two games, Palma was 11-0 when the senior went over 100 yards.
 Cyrus Habibi-Likio and his nearly 1,500 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns are back for the Lancers. Last fall the 6-foot, 170-pound senior, who has committed to Washington State, had 158 yards and two touchdowns against Palma.
 St. Francis beat Palma last year 28-14 in opening the year with seven straight wins. Two of its three losses came from state finalist teams. The other was to a Central Coast Section champion.
 Four turnovers to Sutter crippled the Chieftains, as three of them turned into touchdowns in a 21- point loss.
 "We have to clean up our mistakes on defense and take better care of the ball,'' Carnazzo said. "Four turnovers is unacceptable. That would be fatal this week.''
 The Chieftains, who hadn't given up 50 or more points in a game since falling to De La Salle eight years ago, have won their last 13 regular season games at Rabobank.
 "We will be better this week,'' Carnazzo said.
 Over the last four years, St. Francis has played 54 games, playing in four straight section title games, going 2-2. Palma beat the Lancers in the CCS title game in 2003.