HUGHSON — It was not the path Palma High envisioned when football practice began a little over four months ago — particularly when it was staring at a 0-5 start.

Yet, the unexpected hurdles it had to clear have turned this into a historic run — one that will conclude in the state championship game.

The Chieftains have become the first Monterey County football program to reach a state title game after Saturday’s 31-21 win at Hughson in the Northern California Division 4-A championships.

The Central Coast Section Division III champion Chieftains will face Mission Oak of Tulare — 29-14 winners over once-beaten Rio Hondo Prep — on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Pasadena City College

Champions of the Central Section, Mission Oak has won six straight games after starting the season 4-5, which included a forfeit loss to Taft.

“This has been a dream of our staff for 12 years,” Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said. “It’s always been out of our grasp. The adversity that we faced just makes it that much more special. Adversity teaches life lessons — for all of us.”

Since being forced to forfeit three games for using an ineligible player that dropped Palma to 0-5, it has gone 7-2, with one of those losses coming against Soquel, which advanced Friday to the State Division 4-AA title game.

“There was never a bleak outlook,” Palma quarterback Thomas Nunes said. “We always believed in ourselves. There was never a feeling of grief. We knew we had other goals ahead of us.

“I’m so grateful. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point.”

Hughson (11-4), which was the defending state Division 5-AA champion, had won eight straight playoff games dating back to last year.

The Sac Joaquin Section champions came into the battle averaging 38 points a game in the playoffs, but were held to seven points in the second half by a Chieftains’ defense that has made a habit out of being stingy after halftime.

In four playoff games, Palma (7-7) has outscored opponents 58-28 in the second half, overcoming deficits in three of its four postseason games with a defense anchored by Thomas Ducker, Noah Orozco and Nick Dominguez.

“More than anything, it’s getting a feel,” Carnazzo said. “This team is good about getting a feeling out there. This has been a season about making adjustments on the fly. It’s a defense you don’t want to over coach.”

With the exception of last week’s 38-20 win over Alisal in the Central Coast Section title game, the Chieftains have trailed in eight of their past nine games — by as much as 14 points in one game.

Yet, unlike last week when Palma failed to score just before halftime inside the 1-yard line, it showcased a sense of focus when it used up 3:44 of the clock, capped with Nunes following center Tyler Cena, diving in from 1-yard out with six seconds left in the half to tie the game at 14.

Not only had they seized the momentum, but the Chieftains got the ball to open the second half, where it went on another drive that chewed up nearly five minutes.

“No question that was a turning point,” Carnazzo said. “We call it double-dipping. We told the kids at halftime we have an opportunity we loved.”

Nunes, who threw three touchdown passes in a playoff opening win over Hollister, and rushed for over 100 yards on two touchdown runs last week, showed off his arm against Hughson in the second half.

“We aired it out more,” Nunes said. “This is the most comfortable I’ve felt playing quarterback. Coach Carnazzo put the pressure on me and our receivers. I got to show everyone what I can do.”

Nunes showed off his accuracy just before the half, hitting Logan Saldate for 20 yards to set up his 1-yard plunge that swung the game in the Chieftains’ favor in the second half.

Capitalizing on the momentum generated, Palma went on a time-consuming drive to open the second half with freshman Eli Dukes bolting in from 30 yards out to put the Chieftains up for good.

“His (Nunes) attitude is the reason why we’re here,” Carnazzo said. “He stood up in front of everyone after the forfeits and told the team ‘We are going to use this obstacle as an opportunity. This is exactly what this team needs.'”

Dukes, who was brought up after Palma fell to 0-5, has rushed for over 500 yards and seven touchdowns in four postseason games, collecting three straight 100-plus-yard rushing efforts.

“I told him (Nunes) we can’t win this game if we call plays like we did last week,” Carnazzo said. “This team is big and strong up front. We had to spread it out. It was a combination of being able to run and pass tonight.”

When an attempted fake punt by Hughson failed, Palma got the ball back at the 35-yard line, where Gio Guttierrez knocked down a field goal to give them a 10-point cushion.

“A younger version of me would have gone for it on fourth down,” said Carnazzo, who played for a win instead of a tie in his first season in 2000 when Palma won a CCS Division I title. “We felt the points were more important.”

While Palma has brought home two plaques in the past two weeks and is embarking on its 15th game in a season that is into its 18th week, the feeling is one of vibrancy.

“We’re already so invested,” Nunes said. “We had our best week of practice last week. There is no turning back. The peddle is already on the floor. I don’t have to be much of a leader. Everyone is so invested.”