TUOLUMNE — It was a tale of two halves for the Denair Coyotes.

Trailing by just four points at halftime, DHS was shut out in the third and fourth quarters as defending state champion Summerville (Division 6-A) raced to a 47-17 non-conference victory Friday night at Thorsted Field.

“I think the first half showed the potential of where we can be,” said Coyotes head coach Anthony Armas. “We were down 21-17 at halftime and were getting the ball to start the second half, but they recovered an onside kick and things kind of got away from us from there.”

Armas believes the 30-point final margin is not indicative of how his team played.

“It was a running clock in the fourth quarter, so it looks like a blowout, but we made a bunch of little mistakes in the second half,” said Armas. “I think they’re all things that can easily be cleaned up.”

Denair jumped out to a 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Derek Potter connected with junior running back Connor Hart for a 24-yard completion.

After the Bears tied the score, the Coyotes regained the advantage when Potter found junior wide receiver Harlan Brown for a 33-yard strike to make it 14-7.

Summerville tied the contest again and then took a 21-14 lead before Brown connected on a 35-yard field goal to make 21-17 at the break.

“We’ve played Summerville before and we had problems with their physicality,” said Armas. “But physically, we were right there with them on Friday. We saw this game as a measuring stick; we can play with these guys.”

Potter finished the contest with five completions on 13 attempts, for 84 yards. Bryson Salazar had 10 carries for 93 yards, while Hart totaled 52 yards on 11 totes. Degan Butler finished with 12 carries for 53 yards, and Brown totaled three receptions for 63 yards.

The Coyotes (1-1) will see action again Friday night when they take on McClatchy (2-0), a 35-28 winner over Davis-Yolo last week.

Kickoff is slated for 7:15 p.m. at Jack Lytton Stadium.

The 2025-26 school year is in full swing, and so, too, are Denair Charter Academy’s independent study services, which allow students from kindergarten to 12^th grade to learn off campus, with an educational plan that is tailored to fit their needs.

“K-8 is more of a home-school program, where the parent is highly involved in the child’s education, while the 9-12 independent study is one hour a week with a teacher; the student gets all their curriculum, and they can do it at home,” said DCA principal Jamie Pecot. “Students come to us for a variety of reasons, and we want to support them all.” 

Home study is ideal for a variety of students: those who have health concerns or long-term illnesses, those who are anxious in large classroom settings, or those who have joined the workforce and find it difficult to fit school into their schedules.

“I think a lot of times, people feel that our school is made for students that are troubled kids, and that’s absolutely far from the truth,” said Kara Binkley, a social emotional counselor. 

With just over 100 students enrolled to start the school year, Pecot said there are opportunities to service students at their preferred times and dates.

“We have ample space for new students right now, which is exciting,” said Pecot. “We’ll get an influx of students in October once the first-quarter grades go out. At that point, parents and their students might come to the realization that a traditional program just isn’t working for them. We schedule on a first-come, first-served basis, so now is the time to register if you’ve been thinking about a non-traditional setting.”

Onsite “enrichment” classes are offered to home students so they can interact with their peers. Classes for students in grades 2-8 are held each Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, while high school students can set up their visits at various times, similar to a collegiate schedule. Currently, high-schoolers can take on-campus classes in algebra 1 and 2, geometry, biology, psychology, sports history, ceramics, and floral. 

“It’s a great opportunity for home students to interact with other students in their respective grades,” said Pecot. “They’ll get to play education games and do science experiments; music is another option. But the main focus is really student interaction.

“This is not an alternative curriculum. This is standards-based material from the state of California.”

Since DCA is an independent study school, it can service students who are not vaccinated, though only vaccinated students are able to meet with teachers for on-campus visits.  

To enroll your child in DCA, you must provide proof of age, attendance records, discipline records, immunization record (if applicable), current transcript or most recent report card, proof of residence (utility bill), custody papers (if applicable), and a copy of IEP or 504 documents (if applicable). 

Also, students entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Dec.1 and must complete a dental exam prior to enrollment. First-grade students must complete and provide proof of a physical exam prior to enrollment. Students in grades 7-12 need a current Tdap shot, and all students (if they plan on visiting campus) must have immunizations up to date.

For more information, call 209-634-0917 or visit dca.denairusd.org.

Denair High School’s football team kicked off the 2025 season with a convincing victory over Modesto Christian, scoring eight of its 10 touchdowns in the first half en route to a dominating 66-0 victory.

“Points have come at a premium the last few years,” said head coach Anthony Armas, who guided the Coyotes to the state’s Division 7-AA championship in 2018. “This year, we have kids who expect to score every time they touch the ball.” Friday night, they did precisely that.

Quarterback Derek Potter was 4-of-4 passing — with all four completions resulting in touchdowns — for 155 yards (38.8 yards per completion). 

Running back Bryson Salazar had four carries for 143 yards (35.8 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns, while Degan Butler carried the ball five times for 73 yards (14.6 per attempt) and one TD. Connor Hart finished with six totes for 63 yards (10.5 per attempt) and a pair of scores.

Receiver Harlan Brown caught two passes for 126 yards and two first-quarter touchdowns — one a 69-yarder to open the scoring, and the other a 57-yarder to make it 26-0 heading into the second stanza.

“I was just excited by the way we executed and the way we got after it,” said Armas, whose team was 6-6 with a playoff victory over Delta (Clarksburg) in 2024. “The first game is always exciting. You wonder how the team will react and, leading up to the game, I couldn’t tell if they weren’t taking it seriously or if they were just loose. Turns out, they were just loose. They were ready, and it was nice to see.”

Things will get tougher this week as the Coyotes head to Tuolumne to take on Summerville, the defending state champion in Division 6-A.

“That’s why we put them on the schedule,” said Armas, now in his 11th season as head coach. “They’ve been a pretty successful program, winning section and state titles last year. We got roughed up by them pretty good last season, but our JV team nearly came back and won their game, so we’re excited to see where we stand this year.”

Summerville lost to Ripon Christian, 35-21, in its opener last week.

The 2025-26 school year marks Carlos Mendoza’s fourth with Denair Unified School District, but his first as a teacher in his own classroom. He spent two years as a para-educator and another as a resident teacher. This year, he’ll be front and center.

“I was a little bit nervous to start the year, but that has gone away,” said Mendoza, a 2008 graduate of nearby Delhi High School, and the youngest of four children. “If anything, the nervousness changed into a rush. At the end of the first day, I felt very grateful, and very accomplished.”

Mendoza obtained a degree in psychology from Stanislaus State.

“I think it gives me a better understanding of the mind and of behaviors,” said Mendoza, who provided mental health support for high school students in Modesto before joining DUSD. “I hope to apply that in the classroom.”

Here are some other things you likely don’t know about one of DUSD’s newest teachers:

Family members – I don’t have a family of my own, but I am a proud uncle of four. Tony is 21; J.P. is 20; Ari, my niece, is 18; and Mateo is 14. My siblings are Veronica Davalos, Leo Mendoza, and Beto Mendoza.

Educational background – I received my bachelor’s in psychology from CSU Stanislaus, and I completed my Residency Credential Program through Teachers College of San Joaquin.

Subject/grades taught? – I’ll be teaching AVID, a class meant to prepare students to be successful in school and prepare them for whatever future path they wish to take – either college or career. I will be teaching students ranging from seventh through 12th grades, but most of my classes will be ninth-grade students.

What attracted you to Denair? – One of the main reasons I was attracted to Denair was the sense of belonging. Also, how welcoming the community is and the willingness to support one another.

What most inspires you about teaching? – Honestly, it’s providing students with the support they need to be successful on their own terms and, hopefully, making a positive impact in their lives.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? – I’m used to working with students one-to-one and I’ve been able to build connections with them. So, I’m looking forward to building the same connections I did before, but this time with the whole classroom.

What is a favorite teaching tool or activity? – I’ve always enjoyed being able to “gamify” a lesson whenever possible. It makes the lesson much more engaging and enjoyable for both students and me.

What do you want your students to remember? – I would like for my students to remember that they will forever be students, because as they are growing up, they will continue to learn new things.

What can parents do to support you? – They can help by communicating with me and their students. Parents are always welcome to email or call me with any questions they may have.

What’s something that would surprise people about your job? – How rewarding it can be. Being able to make connections with students and create memories with them is very fulfilling.
What do you do for fun? – I enjoy spending time with family and friends. And when I can, I try to attend a concert or music festival.

Roxi Lagos is a self-described “nerd.” She loves making spreadsheets; she was excited about creating a snack menu for sporting events and dances last year; her pets are named after Naruto characters; and she’s looking forward to redoing her yard with drought-resistant plants. But make no mistake, this former corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, can be plenty tough when she needs to be.

“I really see my role as, one that not only supports students, especially when it comes to behavior, but as support for the teachers because it’s the teachers that do the work,” said Lagos, who becomes the learning director at Denair Elementary Charter Academy this year. “I definitely like the new position, but I am dog tired. I have three kids, I’ve been a teacher, and I’ve been in the military. This is a different kind of tired.”

Here are a few other things you probably don’t know about Lagos:

Family members – Three children: Bunni is 18 and recently graduated from Denair High School; Isaac is 15 and a sophomore at DHS; Logan is 14 and is a freshman at DHS this year. I have three cats, Kiko, Goose, and Toji, and a black pug named Clover.

Educational background – I grew up and attended K-12 schools in Texas. As part of my service in the Marine Corps, I was stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. After my service, I stayed home to raise my children and earned my bachelor’s degree and teaching credential at WGU. I am pursuing my master’s degree with Alliant International University.

Subject/grades taught – I began my career as an elementary school teacher before making the jump to middle school and teaching math. When I began teaching in Denair, I taught both seventh- and eighth-grade math. I also coached the academic pentathlon team at DMS for four years. Last year, I had the amazing opportunity to establish the Teacher Residency Program at DUSD and taught eighth-grade math 50 percent of my day. This year, I am excited to be moving into school administration as the learning director at Denair Elementary Charter Academy. I am hopeful that I can be supportive to the amazing teachers here so they can do what they do best: teach.

What attracted you to Denair? – I began my career in a very large school district. My students and I were just names and faces in a much larger pool of other names and faces. I came to Denair because I wanted to become part of a community where people would at least take the time to learn my name. I’ve stayed here and committed my career aspirations to Denair because of the people: the students, their families, and the extraordinary people with whom I get to work.

What most inspires you about teaching? – As an educator, I am most inspired by the impact I make on the world. Our students will go out into our great nation and to all corners of the world. When they do that, they reflect Denair. I want the world to see that we are small, but we are mighty, and that we contributed to this wonderful person with whom they’re interacting.

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? – This is a big question because I am new to my role and my school site this year. I am grateful that I have interacted with many of the teachers here, as they taught my boys and did such a great job. I hope that I can build a positive relationship with each of them and get to know their needs so that I can support them. Also, I get to inventory obsolete equipment, and I love making a spreadsheet!

What is your hope for your students? – I hope they never shrink themselves to fit in, especially if it means pretending to be less intelligent or articulate than they are. I hope that if they don’t fit in now, they hold on until they get the chance to experience the world and find their people.

What can parents do to support you? – When parents support me, they support their children. My core belief is in the potential of education to open doors and minds. I hope that families will assume a positive intent in all my actions, because everything I do is for the benefit of their children and our community.

What do you do for fun? – I am a bit of a nerd in that I truly love to learn, and I enjoy organizing and making sense information. I am always seeking to “beautify” things and I get a great deal of satisfaction from planning, conducting, and completing projects. I was excited to create a snack menu for sporting events and school dances for DMS last year. At home, I am waiting for it to get a bit cooler so my sons and I can redo our lawn. I am looking forward to establishing drought-tolerant plants that look beautiful and require less maintenance than traditional grass lawns. I also collect video games, consoles, and Amiibo. I enjoy cartoons, anime, and watch way too much YouTube.

One interesting, little-known fact about me is … In boot camp I was the “knowledge recruit” and was honored to be voted “Molly Marine” for my platoon.