Denair High School took another step toward an outright Southern League title with a
convincing 55-22 victory over Modesto Christian on Friday at Roy Blakely Field.
The Coyotes improve to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in conference action with games remaining against
Delhi (0-8, 0-5) this Friday and Waterford (3-5, 2-3) on Nov. 6.
Denair head coach Anthony Armas does not believe his players will be overconfident closing the
season against second-division teams.
“Delhi has become quite a rivalry for both our campuses, and I don't think either team needs to
be told to focus this week,” said Armas. “Our kids also know what is on the line the next couple
of weeks. We make sure they know that every week is a championship week.”
The Coyotes are currently No. 4 in MaxPreps’ Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 ratings, one spot
ahead of Mariposa. Stone Ridge Christian is on the outside looking in at No. 9. If the ratings
remained unchanged through the end of the regular season – highly unlikely – Denair and
Mariposa (6-2, 4-1) would be set to meet in the opening round for the second consecutive
season.
But according to Will DeBoard, assistant commissioner for the SJS, that’s a situation the seeding
committee would try hard to avoid.
“We try to as much as we can to avoid teams from the same league playing each other in the
first round,” said DeBoard. “Sometimes, it’s unavoidable; sometimes, it really makes a mockery
of the bracket if you flip teams.
“Hypothetically, you could have the 4 and 5 teams from the same league and a No. 6 that
happens to be much less competitive. Our common practice would be to avoid the league
rematch and flip the 5 and 6 teams in the bracket – with the third seed playing the fifth seed,
and the fourth playing the sixth. But that would give the No. 3 seed a more difficult first-round
opponent than the No. 4 seed.”
Denair and Mariposa squared off twice in 2025, with the Grizzlies winning the regular-season
meeting in overtime and the Coyotes emerging victorious in the playoff rematch.
Defending state champion Calaveras (7-1) sits atop the D-7 ratings, followed by Golden Sierra
(7-1), Linden (6-2), Denair, Mariposa, River Islands (7-2), Rio Vista (6-3), and Summerville (2-5),
the 2024 state champ.
Calaveras still has tough games against Linden and Big Valley Christian on the schedule; Linden
and Summerville still have to play; and River Islands closes with BVC, so there exists a possibility
that Denair could move up one or two spots in the coming weeks – as long as the Coyotes keep
winning.
“I take a glance at the rankings out of curiosity, but I don't pay much attention to it,” said
Armas. “So much can change in the next two weeks, and the CIF can still change things when
they seed everyone for playoffs.”
Modesto Christian struck first Friday night, scoring on the opening drive, and the teams were
tied 14-14 in the second quarter. The Coyotes then erupted for 41 unanswered points –
quarterback Derek Potter connected with running back John Wilmoth TD passes of 43, 21, and
17 yards during the run – and led 55-14 before the Crusaders found the end zone once again
the closing minutes for the final margin.
Individually, Potter was 5-for-5 for 107 yards and four scores while Wilmoth ran for 94 yards on
eight carries – including a 36-yard TD scamper – and caught four passes for 83 yards.
Connor Hart contributed 64 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts; Noah Chavez ran the
ball seven times for 67 yards and a TD; and Harlan Brown had a 24-yard TD reception and
connected on five of his seven extra-point attempts.
