Palma football

For all the titles, postseason appearances and wins the Chieftains have piled up in Jeff Carnazzo's 18 year as a head coach, this has easily been his best job.
 It wasn't the 0-2 start that got your attention as much as Palma being outscored 70-13, or the fact that it had a running clock placed on them in its opener.
 Perhaps the low point in the season, though, came two weeks later when it failed to hold a 13-0 lead, surrendering 35 unanswered points in the second half in a loss to Aptos.
 Falling to Salinas for the first time in 15 years left them 2-4. A 32 year playoff run was in jeopardy of ending. Yet, that's not what concerned Carnazzo. Was his team getting better?
 Five straight wins and a spot in the Central Coast Section Open Division III semifinals has answered that question.
 "We're getting better,'' Carnazzo said. "But we're not there yet.''
 There is an indication that Palma is close after putting together its most dynamic first half of the fall in dropping 28 straight points on Seaside in its playoff opener.
 Now can the Chieftains put that together for four quarters? The youth of the program showed up in the second half when complacency saw a 35-point lead cut to 14.
 Eleven games into the year and teaching moments continue for Carnazzo. But the sound in his voice is clear that he's enjoying this. Nothing has come easy. And that's been the best part.