Palma football

Making the playoffs does not signal that the Chieftains are back. Neither does three consecutive wins under must win conditions.
 What does get your attention is how Palma won Friday to clinch its 33rd straight CCS postseason appearance.
 It did it after trailing by as much as 10 points -- nine in the second half. That likely does not happen four weeks ago.
 Granted the three opponents Palma has beaten in the last three weeks might not make the postseason. Of course, for two of those teams, that wouldn't be the case had it beaten the Chieftains.
 I told you to hold off on those eulogies when Palma was 1-3.Granted failing to hold a 13-0 halftime lead in a 35-13 loss at home to Aptos left a lot of us wondering at 2-4.
 Palma hadn't lost four games in the regular season in 33 years. All runs eventually end. Perhaps. But not his year.
 Oh, growing pains are still evident. Three turnovers in the first eight minutes Friday against Seaside were crippling. But it didn't have devastating effects this time.
 It's not like Palma's four losses have been shockers. Menlo-Atherton went to the state finals last year. St. Francis is 5-2 and 3-1 in the West Catholic Athletic League.
 Salinas is 7-2 and Aptos is 6-2. Both are undefeated in the Gabilan Division. Three of those teams will be in the CCS Open Division I playoffs.
 It's not out of the realm that the Chieftains could made another extended run in the Open Division III playoffs.
 Anthony Villegas has evolved into a dangerous running back with over 1,000 rushing yards behind a much improved Palma offensive line.
 The defense has allowed just two touchdowns in the first half in its last five games. Another shot at Aptos in the postseason would be enticing.