Seaside-Palma football

Friday's game
Seaside (5-3) vs. Palma (4-4) at Rabobank, 7:30 p.m.
 You can make the argument that the postseason has started three weeks early for both these teams, who need to win out to clinch that No. 4 spot in the Gabilan Division.
 The Chieftains, who haven't missed the playoffs in 32 years, have won their last two games to get to .500 for the first time all year, while Seaside has won two straight.
 After scoring just 83 points in its first six games, Palma has produced 85 points in its last two games behind sophomore tailback Anthony Villegas and quarterback Grant Sergent.
 Sergent is coming off a career best 245 yard passing effort, tossing three touchdowns, including two to Dominic Scattini. He hasn't thrown a pick in his last four starts.
 The Spartans went in the opposite direction last week, turning the quarterback duties over to Daniel Sayre, who rushed for 118 yards.
 While Sayre doesn't give Seaside the passing threat it has displayed this season, he forces opponents to rethink putting an emphasis on DeMarcus Hawkins, who rushed for 222 yards last week.
 The pair were lethal last week in piling up over 300 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Seaside can still go back to throwing the ball with Ivan Ochoa for a change of pace.
 Ultimately defense will dictate the outcome. Both Palma and the Spartans have held their last two opponents scoreless in the first half.
 While the Gabilan Division only gets four automatic playoffs spots, five teams will likely get into the CCS playoffs. Which means a 5-5 record might not get in.