High School football: Soquel controls the clock in running past Palma
SOQUEL — Addressing the team before boarding the bus back to Salinas, Jeff Carnazzo didn’t mince words about what he feels or perceives is a lack of leadership.
“I told the team after the game I don’t care where the leadership comes from,” the Palma coach said. “We have to get that back if we’re going to chase our goals.”
For the first time since Palma’s playoff streak began 39 years ago, it is starring at an 0-2 league start after being humbled by host Soquel 32-14 in a battle of reigning state divisional champions.
“There are some similarities to last year in that are backs are against the wall again,” Carnazzo said. “Schemes are schemes. I didn’t forget how to coach. But as coaches, we have to work on their psyche and challenge them to lead.”
Carnazzo, the all-time leader in wins as a football coach in the county, was referring to last fall’s 0-5 start — forced to forfeit three wins, in which Palma needed a win its league finale just to clinch a playoff spot.
“We can’t use youth as an excuse,” said Carnazzo, in reference to 13 sophomores seeing extensive time. “I’m not happy with how we played in the second half. We didn’t compete like we competed in the first half.”
The Chieftains (3-3 overall) have been their own worst enemy, having given up three defensive touchdowns in the last seven quarters. The two defensive touchdowns against Salinas were the difference in the game.
Since dropping their first two games of the season by identical 14-7 scores to two perennial playoff teams, the Knights have won three straight, outscoring opponents 122-27.
“We were dominated in the second half,” Carnazzo said. “Soquel is a very talented on both sides of the ball and is strong up front. We need that leadership to kick in.”
The Chieftains, who fell 39-25 last week to reigning Gabilan Division champion Salinas, were outscored 26-0 during one stretch of the game against Soquel after taking a brief 7-6 lead on the first of two David Garcia touchdown runs.
“We had some momentum,” Carnazzo said. “But we struggled all night to stop their un. Soquel went on long sustained drives. It was doing what we like to do to other teams and that’s hold on to the ball. We were pretty frustrated.”
Despite an interception in the second quarter from Eli Mercurio, the Chieftains were held to four possessions in the first half as Soquel chewed up the clock with its ground game.
“I’ll watch film tonight, and go back to the drawing board on Monday and figure out how we’re going to improve up front on the defensive side of the ball,” Carnazzo said. “When a team can run on you, it’s a punch to the gut.”
The Chieftains defense had given up just one offensive touchdown in their first four games of the season, with a pair of shutouts. They have allowed seven touchdowns on defense in two Gabilan Division games.
Palma, who hosts Aptos next Friday at Rabobank, has dropped three games this year to a state champion, a state finalist and a reigning Gabilan Division champion, whose combined records are 13-3.
Ironically, all three of the Chieftains losses have come on the road. They are unbeaten when hosting a game, which they will do for three of their final four games.
“Young team or not, you have to string four quarters of football together,” Carnazzo said. “We have yet to do that this year. Our focal point in practice has to be stopping the run. We can’t keep giving up long sustained drives.”
Soquel piled up 374 yards for the game, 258 of which came on the ground, with tailback Tyreis Lundy finishing with 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 14 carries.
Garcia, who had one carry against Salinas, may have earned a few more touches in what is becoming a crowded backfield for Palma, after rushing for 41 yards and two touchdowns. Eli Dukes added 71 yards on just 13 carries.
“He (Garcia) is the third back we’ve talked about,” Carnazzo said. “He’s earned more carries after tonight. He was a bright spot for us.”
