Palma football

 Put aside the physical toll that comes with playing a game against your biggest nemesis, an opponent that pushes you to your limits.
 Don't forget the mental and emotional anguish of playing for a championship against a program that was 9-0, and had to be stopped twice in the final two minutes in the red zone.
 The Chieftains celebration of their 30th league title in 33 years after a 14-6 win over San Benito will be short-lived.
 Coaches will tell you the biggest concern after a rivalry game is a letdown. That can't happen in the postseason.
 There are no weak links in the Open Division format. A potential first round draw with St. Ignatius of San Francisco is a dangerous game for the Chieftains.
 Then again, if you're going to chase a Central Coast Section Open Division title, you're likely going to have to face a West Catholic Athletic League opponent at some point.
 Palma has dropped six straight postseason games to WCAL opponents, including a 49-14 loss to St. Ignatius in 2012. Last year if fell in the semifinals to Riordan 17-14.
 Simply put, the WCAL is a barrier the Chieftains have to clear to chase the ultimate goal of playing for a state title.
 And Palma has in the past. Prior to the skid, it was 9-4 against WCAL teams in the playoffs, beating two of them in CCS title games in the early 2000's.
 But you have to like the makeup of a team that gives up 52 points in its opener, then falls in the final seconds to -- you guessed it -- a WCAL team in Week 2, before rattling off eight straight wins.
 That didn't happen by accident.