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.

Monday kicks off Red Ribbon Week at Denair Elementary Charter Academy – five days full of
events that encourage students to be drug free. This year’s Red Ribbon Week theme is “Be
Brave. Be Kind. Be Drug Free.” Each individual day of the week also has its own unique theme.
Monday: “Red-y to be Drug Free.” Students are encouraged to wear red – the official
color of commitment to living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
Tuesday: “Hide from Drugs.” A day for students to wear camouflage clothing.
Wednesday: “Piece Together Your Dreams.” Students can wear their comfy pajamas to
school.
Thursday: “Life is a Movie.” Students can dress as their favorite movie or cartoon
character.
Friday: “Costumes are Cool, Drugs are Not.” Students get to don their school-approved
Halloween costumes (no masks and no inappropriate attire).
DECA’s annual Halloween parade will be held Friday. Gates open for parents at 8:35 a.m. and
the parade begins at 9. Students are encouraged to wear school-approved costumes.
Also on Friday, students will have the opportunity to take part in a Día de los Muertos (Day of
the Dead) celebration. This joyful Latin American tradition honors and remembers loved ones
who have passed away.
As part of the celebration, families often create beautiful ofrendas (altars) decorated with
photos, sugar skulls, favorite foods, drinks, flowers, battery-operated candles, books, and other
special items that represent their loved ones.
DECA students will have the chance to view these altars and learn about the history and
cultural significance of Día de los Muertos. While school is in session, this will be a DUSD
student-only event. However, the district invites families and community members to join the
celebration after school in the old cafeteria, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. to view the altars and take part
in this beautiful tradition.
Friday is also a big day for Denair Middle School, which will hold its Boo Bash dance – wear your
costumes! – in the DMS gymnasium. Tickets are $5 with an ASB sticker, $7 without, and $10 at
the door.
On Thursday, the Denair High School FFA program will hold its Trunk or Treat celebration from
6 to 8:30 p.m. in the DHS parking lot (decorated vehicles should plan to arrive by 5 p.m.).
Admission is free. The event will feature trunk-or-treating, a costume contest, a car-decorating
contest, pumpkin painting, music, games, and a raffle for attendees dressed in a costume.
Early release schedule will be in effect all this week for DECA students for parent-teacher
conferences.

Denair High defeated rival Mariposa 26-20 to gain the inside track in the race for the Southern
League championship Friday night at Jack W. Lytton Stadium.
With the victory, Denair (6-1) grabbed sole possession of first place in the conference at 4-0,
while Mariposa (5-2) suffered its first SL setback of the season, dropping to 3-1 in league action.
The teams met twice last season, with the Grizzlies taking a 24-23 overtime victory at the
Mariposa County Fairgrounds, while the Coyotes won a rematch there, 38-33, in the opening
round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 playoffs.
“I don’t want to say we’re in the driver’s seat,” said head coach Anthony Armas. “In this league,
anybody is capable of beating you.”
The Coyotes, who shared the league title with Mariposa and Stone Ridge Christian in 2025, will
finish the regular season with games against Modesto Christian (2-5), Delhi (0-7), and
Waterford (2-5).
In the end, Friday’s showdown came down to two, time-consuming drives.
Trailing 26-13 with 1:30 to play in the third quarter, Mariposa took possession at its own 25 and
embarked on a 16-play drive that ended with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter when the aptly
named Rusty Bull – who bulled his way for 190 rushing yards on 25 carries – scored from the 1
to make it 26-20.
Denair began the ensuing possession on its own 31 with 6:16 left in the game, and marched 47
yards to the Grizzlies’ 22 before turning the ball over on downs with five seconds remaining.
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Mariposa set up for a desperation pass, but quarterback Austin Battles was chased out of the
pocket, and eventually out of bounds, by junior defensive end Victor Sarmiento.
“I knew there wasn’t much time,” said Sarmiento. “I just wanted to keep the pressure on to
make sure he didn’t turn up field or get off a clean throw.”
Denair led 13-7 at the break and scored on the opening drive of the second half when junior
John Wilmoth busted in from 7 yards out to make it 19-7.
The Grizzlies countered with a 24-yard pass from Battles to Bull to make it 19-13 with 2:39
remaining in the third quarter.
Two plays later, Denair fullback Connor Hart broke free for a 58-yard touchdown to once again
make it a two-score margin.
“I was just waiting for my shot,” said Hart. “I got the ball, I saw everybody going down, and I
just hit the gas.”
Hart, who also plays middle linebacker, figured he’d be plenty sore Saturday morning after the
punishment he took and the punishment he dished out.
“I’m already feeling it right now,” said Hart. “They’re all physical over there, but (Bull) is a
workhorse.”
Hart finished the game with 134 yards on 10 carries and the long TD, while backfield mate Noah
Chavez ran the ball 13 times for 122 yards and one score, which gave the Coyotes a 7-0 lead
with 3:42 to play in the first quarter.
“I really appreciate our offensive line,” said Chavez. “I was so impressed. It seemed like every
time I ran there was a wide-open tunnel.”
Center Jose Mora said he knew the offensive line was going to have to perform at its peak
against Mariposa’s big, physical defensive front.
“I knew everything was going to come down to the offensive line,” said Mora. “We wanted to
get extra yards for Noah and Connor and John, and we wanted to give Derek (Potter) time to
pass.”
Potter completed four of his seven attempts for 36 yards and carried the ball three times for 30
yards.

DENAIR, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2026) — Denair Unified School District has been awarded a multi-year

“Invention Education (IvE) Pathways” grant that will support teaching elementary, middle, and

high school students the methods inventors use to improve lives.

The grant was awarded by Lemelson-MIT (LMIT) program, part of the Massachusetts Institute

of Technology’s prestigious School of Engineering. While the district was awarded a modest

$35,000 for materials and equipment, the real value of the grant is the professional

development, IvE curriculum, and implementation support provided by LMIT. DUSD will work in

conjunction with California State University, Stanislaus.

LMIT’s experience, case studies, and published research show that this approach helps

students, especially those underrepresented in STEM, build confidence and see themselves as

capable STEM learners and inventors. Student teams in the program’s flagship high school

grants initiative – InvenTeams® – have earned an impressive 24 U.S. patents.

“We want to equip all students to succeed in a global economy, where critical and creative

thinking is a must,” said DUSD Superintendent Terry Metzger, Ed.D. “Through this partnership

our students will experience firsthand the transformative power of invention education. IvE

goes beyond the traditional classroom, giving students a platform not only to develop tangible

solutions to real-world problems but also to build essential skills like critical thinking,

collaboration, and resilience.”

IvE is an approach to teaching in which students work in teams to identify problems that matter

to them and develop prototypes of novel solutions. Students engaged in IvE learn how to apply

knowledge and skills from different disciplines. They develop durable human skills that are

important in work and in life such as teamwork, collaboration and communication. Students

also develop technical skills and confidence in their own abilities. All three types of benefits

prepare students to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world. Denair USD plans to offer IvE in its

before and after school program. Students at all grade levels will also have opportunities to

learn through invention projects and activities teachers incorporate into their classroom

instruction.

The district is partnering with teacher candidates and FabLab staff from CSU Stanislaus to

organically expand interest and enthusiasm for IvE among students, teachers, and staff. Denair

USD is part of a larger northern California regional cohort identified by LMIT after a nationwide

search for a cluster of schools/colleges and districts that recognize the power of IvE and are

committed to building strong pathways to invention. The other two regions selected were

Tennessee and Massachusetts/Connecticut. LMIT offers curriculum resources that schools,

districts, and community colleges can adopt selectively to jump-start their IvE offerings. LMIT

will work with participating sites across Northern California to assist with their design,

implementation, and evaluation of learning experiences that help students apply STEM

knowledge to invent solutions to real-world problems.

The complete list of Northern California schools, districts, and colleges selected as part of

LMIT’s regional focus include:

 California State University, Stanislaus

 Columbia College

 Columbia Union School District

 Denair Unified School District

 Folsom-Cordova Unified School District

 Stockton Unified School District

 Visions in Education University Prep Early College Academy (Gold River)

“This initiative builds on LMIT’s work with educators across the U.S. for nearly 25 years and

related research. We have learned that IvE can benefit all students, especially when students

can experience learning through the invention process across multiple grade levels,” said Dr.

Stephanie Couch, executive director of LMIT. “Our goal is to create opportunities for learning

through IvE during the regular school day, beginning in the early grades and continuing into

adulthood. Learners will gain insights into the opportunities they have to improve the lives of

people they care about through creative and inventive problem solving. They will also gain

confidence in their own abilities, including pursuit of college/career paths in technical

fields/occupations if that is what they choose. Employers benefit from graduates that have the

types of capabilities they need but have trouble finding. Invention education connects students’

knowledge and passions with the technical and durable human skills employers are looking

for.”

ABOUT DENAIR UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: DUSD serves more than 1,300 students in

California’s San Joaquin Valley, the nation’s mightiest ag production region. And while the

district embraces its ag-based roots, it also looks to empower tomorrow’s leaders through

exemplary instruction and powerful, innovative programs.

ABOUT THE LEMELSON-MIT PROGRAM:  For more than 30 years, LMIT, administered under the

MIT School of Engineering, has been a national leader in efforts to prepare the next generation

of inventors and entrepreneurs. Their work focuses on the expansion of opportunities for all

people to discover their pathway into becoming an inventor and solve crucial problems to help

improve lives. 

Jerome H. Lemelson, one of U.S. history’s most prolific inventors, and his wife Dorothy, founded

the Lemelson-MIT Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1994. It is funded

by The Lemelson Foundation and administered by MIT’s School of Engineering, an institution

with a strong ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for K-14 STEM

education.   

The Lemelson-MIT Program (LMIT), one of the entities consulted by the partners during this

program design process, LMIT has a proven track record of supporting educators and teams of

young people across the U.S. in developing technical and human skills through the project-

based learning approach known as “invention education” (IvE). IvE blends STEM instruction

with hands-on skills common in career technical education (CTE) programs in ways that

educators, learners, and employers value. To date, 23 teams of high school students with whom

LMIT has worked have earned patents for their invention prototypes.

Denair High handily defeated Le Grand 49-28 in a Southern League contest last Friday night,
setting up a clash that against Mariposa that will likely decide the conference title.
Both teams enter the showdown with matching 5-1 overall records, and 3-0 in SL action.
The aptly named Connor Hart – he was the heart of the Denair attack – turned in a solid two-
way performance as the Coyotes dominated the Bulldogs.
The senior running back carried the ball 17 times for 147 yards (8.7 per attempt) and two
scores, while delivering four solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, a sack, and an interception that
he returned for a touchdown late in the first half.
Junior John Wilmoth was even more effective out of the backfield, totaling 146 yards and one
TD on eight totes (18.3 per carry). Defensively, Wilmoth had five solo tackles and one assist.
Senior Noah Chavez had 77 yards and score on eight attempts (9.6), with three solo tackles and
four assists on defense.
Senior quarterback Derek Potter connected on three of his four pass attempts for 98 yards and
two scores – both to Harlan Brown, who had two receptions for 93 yards.
Additional defensive standouts were junior Ulices Flores (two sacks) and sophomore Nolan
Peardon (three solo tackles, two assists, a sack, and a fumble recovery).
“The key for us Friday was executing,” said head coach Anthony Armas. “We didn't execute as
well as we would have liked the previous week against Gustine. We knew we needed to come
out against Le Grand and do what we do – play fast, play physical, and execute.”

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The loss for Le Grand (3-3) was its first in conference play, leaving Denair and Mariposa atop
the conference standings.
The teams have played two common opponents: league foe Gustine and Amador (Sutter
Creek). Denair slipped past the Gustine 23-16, while Mariposa blasted the Reds 50-6. Both
teams lost close contests to Amador, with Denair falling 28-20 at Jack Lytton Stadium and the
Grizzlies losing 29-28 on the road.
According to the MaxPreps ratings system, Mariposa is No. 413 in California while Denair is
463rd. The Coyotes’ five victories have come against opponents with an average MaxPreps
rating of just over 800, while Mariposa’s victories have come against teams with an average just
below 900.
“Our players are looking forward to the game with Mariposa,” said Armas. “We had two really
tough, exciting games with them last year. Both teams seem to bring out the best in each
other.”
Denair fell to Mariposa 24-23 in overtime during their 2025 regular-season matchup but came
back to avenge that loss with a 33-28 victory over the Grizzlies in the first round of the Sac-
Joaquin Section Division 7 playoffs.
“Mariposa is always a very physical team and they're well coached,” added Armas. “They're
pretty darn good at every aspect of the game, so it's hard to say one thing about Mariposa
concerns us. I think our biggest concern every week is always us – making sure we're prepared,
try to be as healthy as possible, and execute as best we can. Everything else usually takes care
of itself.”