In a nail-biting CCS Division II semifinal, the 7th-seeded Palma Chieftains edged out 6th-seeded Menlo 24-23 to secure a spot in the championship game. Behind a dominant rushing attack and clutch defensive stops, Palma persevered in a game that went down to the wire.
The Chieftains leaned heavily on sophomore running back Eli Dukes, who delivered a phenomenal performance with 29 carries for 218 yards and three touchdowns, accounting for the bulk of Palma's offense. Dukes' explosive runs kept Palma in the game and ultimately propelled them to victory.
In a back and forth game, Palma's defense stood tall, limiting Menlo's potent offense when it mattered most. Quarterback Pat Driscoll contributed 49 yards through the air, including a critical 40-yard connection with Dukes, keeping the defense honest. Lucas Milburn added a 9-yard reception to round out the passing attack.
Palma totaled 272 rushing yards on 40 attempts, showcasing their physicality and resilience in a tightly contested matchup.
With the win, Palma advances to face Wilcox in the CCS Division II Final this Saturday night. The championship game will take place at San Jose City College at 7:00 PM.
