Palma vs Mission Oaks State Championship 2023

By JOHN DEVINE | [e-mail] | Monterey Herald
PASADENA - Coaches embraced, some fighting back tears, while players ran to the edge of the stands to celebrate with a contingent of family and friends.
The barriers to clear for Palma High over the course of a 19-week football season only strengthened the grip of a unit that ignored the outside noise.
“This is something you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives,” said Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo, fighting back his emotions in addressing his players for the final time. “I know I will. It’s a historic achievement."
The Chieftains brought home the county’s first CIF State football title Saturday after a 42-19 decision over Mission Oak of Tulare in the Division 4-A championship at Pasadena City College.
“So much juice is what I’m feeling,” Palma quarterback Thomas Nunes said. “We worked so hard for this. No one in the county has ever done it. That’s the best part.”
Palma was sitting at 0-5 at the midpoint of the regular season after forfeiting three wins because of using an ineligible player, but the Chieftains went 8-2 down the stretch.
Two of its four losses on the field came against Arizona state runner-up Yuma Catholic and CIF Division 4-AA champion Soquel.
“It feels amazing,” said freshman tailback Eli Dukes, who rushed for 208 yards and four touchdowns. “I didn’t see myself in this position when the year started.”
Dukes, who began the season playing freshman football, was called up when Palma was 0-5 and dealing with injuries in the backfield.
Going over 200 yards for the second time this year on 30 carries, Dukes rushed for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns in five postseason games.
“I’m nothing without my offensive line,” said Dukes, who had never played tackle football before this year. “The offensive line was amazing. There were gaps everywhere.”
The Central Coast Section Division III champion Chieftains scored on six of their first nine offensive possessions, while the defense held Mission Oak scoreless in the first half.
“It feels so good,” linebacker Noah Orozco said. “We earned this. I’m a senior. I’m not done playing football. But it’s sinking in. I will cherish this moment the rest of my life.”
Orozco was a demon on defense with a dozen tackles, creating havoc with the Central Section champion Hawks, who finished the year 10-5.
“A lot of people wrote us off, said we didn’t deserve to be here,” Orozco said. “It’s a testament to the character of this team.”
Mission Oak was held scoreless in the first half for the first time all seaon, as Orozco, Ryan Sanders, Edgar Padilla and Thomas Ducker were ruthless in their pursuit.
“Noah played a hell of a game,” said Carnazzo, moments before he attempted to avoid getting dosed with water by a charging group of players.
Had it not been for two deflected passes that fell into the hands of two Mission Oak receivers that turned into touchdowns, the Chieftains defense might have pitched a shutout.
An interception by Cayden Acosta and a fumble recovery from Sanders turned into 14 points for the Chieftains, who built a 21-0 halftime cushion.
“We dreamed of coming down here to play for a state title,” Carnazzo said. “This shows that dreams can come true. It’s hard to win state titles.”
Owner of a county record 209 wins as a coach, Carnazzo has been a part of the program as a player and coach that has made the postseason 39 straight years.
Even as the stadium cleared out and another game awaited, a jubilant Chieftains squad was soaking in every last second of their final time together.
“I want you guys to understand how big this truly is,” Carnazzo said.
For just the second time in the past 10 weeks, Palma wasn’t playing from behind, going on a masterful 98-yard drive for the game’s first points on its second series.
Dukes, who chalked up over 50 of those yards, capped the five-plus minute drive with the first of his four touchdowns with a 6-yard run.
On Palma’s ensuing series, it was Nunes - who narrowly missed on two previous attempts earlier in the game - hitting Logan Saldate in stride for a 54-yard scoring strike.
Big plays became a theme, as Dukes’ 42-yard touchdown run in the third quarter answered the Hawks’ first touchdown moments earlier.
The celebration began to unfold in late in the third quarter after Sanders fell on a fumble and Nunes took a bootleg 5 yards untouched into the end zone, extending the lead cushion to 22.
“Great call coach,” said Nunes, as he came back to the sidelines.
Palma arguably put together its most complete game, chalking up over 400 yards in offense without a turnover, while its defense took Mission Oak out of its game plan.
“It sucks that the season has to end,” said Carnazzo, whose team closed the season with six straight wins. “We battled a lot of adversity. What an amazing ride.”
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[@rickyestrada4351]

congrats !

[@831athletix4]

Huge

[@nosir1440]

How’d a team with a losing season get into the playoffs?

[@RuthLockman]

*promosm* 😬

[@centralcoastcommunitywatch]

palma should be ashamed taking the ccs title from a team that plays in a lower division. they should also feel shame for the fact that a $20,000 a year private school is taking opportunities from public schools. palma used to play open division ccs or at least d1 and now look at them...celebrating a division 4 ccs title over a team they smashed by 30 points in the regular season...and winning state titles over schools with kids in wheelchairs. there is no honor in this. no honor left with the football program. carnazzo out.

[@831sebas]

no one cares bro

[@centralcoastcommunitywatch]

you cant handle the truth. @@831sebas

[@WestD-ec7ho]

Get actual facts 20k lol sure ok and blame the CIF who make these schedules not the kids who play in them "shamed" right! and D1 champs were Los Gatos a PULBIC school "taking opportunities from public schools" keep making excuses.

[@centralcoastcommunitywatch]

@@WestD-ec7ho lol Palma and Los Gatos used to compete in the same weight class...and as for public schools, im talmbout the underfunded schools from lower income communities...not the rich side of town...

[@smacksonligma1621]

@@centralcoastcommunitywatchur just mad buddy