Anthony Armas has been first playing and then coaching football for 32 years. He’s witnessed some amazing performances, including leading Denair to a state title in 2018. And yet the Coyotes accomplished something in Friday’s 54-35 victory over Bret Harte that Armas had never seen before – they had four players each run for at least 100 yards.

“I was pretty excited. It was pretty cool,” said Armas. 

Junior Alex Vargas led the way for Denair (1-2) with 176 yards and four touchdowns on only 13 carries. He also picked up another TD on a pass from Derek Potter. 

“He’s a pretty quick kid. I like the way he was running the ball,” said Armas of Vargas.

Not to be outdone, junior Degan Butler ran for 174 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Jesse Ruelas (eight carries, 115 yards) and Jayden Hensley (six carries, 104 yds, one TD) completed Denair’s amazing performance on the ground.

“We have a lot of faith in all of our running backs,” said Armas, whose team raced to a 27-6 lead at halftime.

The only time the Coyotes were stopped was when time ran out in the first half and when they lost a fumble in the second half. Other than that, they scored on every possession.

“I think we had one run stopped at the line of scrimmage,” Armas said. “Other than that, everything was five yards or more. There were a lot of long runs. It was a fun game to call plays for.”

As a former offensive lineman, Armas took special satisfaction in Denair’s amazing feat. As good as his running backs are, they don’t gain those yards without the guys in front of them opening holes.

Against Bret Harte, Denair’s offensive line of left tackle Brody McFarland, left guard Luis Esquivel, center  Darrien Schell, right guard Even Coronel, right tackle Eduardo Zacharias and tight end Ernesto Silva

consistently dominated.

“They’ve been doing a good job. We haven’t made a whole lot of mistakes, even in the game we got shut out, we’ve been dialed in to what we’re doing,” Armas praised. “The kids have been finishing blocks and putting people on the ground.”

Denair returns home this Friday to host Pajaro Valley (1-1) of Watsonville in the final preseason game before Southern League play begins. Kickoff is at 7:15 p.m. at Jack Lytton Stadium.

By Dr. Terry Metzger, Superintendent

Denair Unified School District (DUSD) has made a remarkable turnaround from the brink of financial collapse to becoming a model of innovation and community resilience. Through strategic leadership and strong community support, the district has transformed challenges into opportunities, emerging stronger than ever.

In 2012, Denair Unified faced a severe fiscal crisis that left the district nearly insolvent. With a significant budget deficit threatening the closure of schools and a potential state takeover, drastic measures were taken. The district made painful cuts to staff, programs, and services, leading to widespread concern among parents, educators, and community members about the future of education in Denair. As a result, many families sought other educational options for their children. The district’s enrollment dropped from over 1600 to 1250 students. 

The district’s recovery began with tough decisions and a clear commitment for the future. The school board and an interim superintendent initiated a comprehensive financial recovery plan, which included renegotiating contracts, consolidating resources, and prioritizing spending on essential programs. Faculty and staff took significant cuts in salary, and many left the district, leading to further instability in the system.

Fast forward to 2024, and the story of Denair Unified is one of resilience and renewal. The district has achieved financial stability, certifying a positive budget for ten consecutive years. This financial turnaround has enabled DUSD to reinvest in its schools, restoring and even expanding programs that were cut during the crisis. 

Denair High School, which once struggled with declining enrollment and low morale, is now a thriving campus with six Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, an innovative Project Life program for students with moderate to severe disabilities, strong student leadership, and a 100% graduation rate for the Class of 2024. Current enrollment at DHS is 311 compared to a low of 260 students in 2015-16. 

In 2018, Denair Middle School’s enrollment was just 200 students. Seven years later, 300 students in grades 6-8 learn in a positive, safe and fun environment, where teachers and staff value strong relationships to support students through the sometimes-tough middle school years. While maintaining its small-school feel, a variety of electives such as FFA, band, music production, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Spanish and Academic Pentathlon are offered to enhance the core academic program.

Denair Elementary Charter Academy and Denair Middle School offer a robust Dual Language Immersion program in grades K-8, with students entering high school as proficiently biliterate in English and Spanish and on track to graduate with the State Seal of Biliteracy. Currently, 35% of the district’s K-8 students participate in the program.

The district’s dual language program is complemented by a traditional English instruction program. DECA serves nearly 600 students in preschool to grade 5 and is a tight-knit community. Teachers and staff skillfully blend academics and social-emotional learning to provide students with “just right” support. Fun assemblies and activities provide students with many learning opportunities throughout the year.

Denair Charter Academy offers personalized learning through independent study and home school options for students and families who either need or prefer an alternative to a traditional school setting. DCA students have access to a wide range of courses, including CTE and A-G, keeping them on-track for college or career.

The district has also made significant investments in technology and infrastructure, ensuring that students have access to modern learning tools. These improvements have been crucial in enhancing the quality of education across the district.

As part of its commitment to the whole child, DUSD expanded its mental health services, recognizing the importance of supporting students beyond academics. A seven-member mental health team provides individual therapy and group counseling across the district as well as working with student club leaders to organize wellness activities and events.

Denair Unified School District’s journey from fiscal crisis to thriving success is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and strategic leadership. I am honored to be a part of this transformation. Our district’s recovery is a story of hope and determination. We have overcome significant challenges, and today, we stand stronger and more united than ever. The future is bright for Denair Unified, and we are committed to continuing our upward trajectory.

With plans for further academic enhancements, extensive facility upgrades, and community partnerships, DUSD is poised to build on its successes and continue to serve as a model of perseverance and excellence in education.

An evenly matched football game with the teams trading the lead ended up with Denair coming up just short of what would have been the tying score in Saturday night’s 36-30 non-league loss to Big Valley Christian of Modesto.

“Everybody thought it was exciting, but I didn’t like the outcome,” summed up Denair Coach Anthony Armas.

The Coyotes, trailing by six points, were threatening to knot the score late in the fourth quarter. They had third down and 1 on the Big Valley 3-yard line, but a mishandled pitch cost them four yards. Then on fourth down, sophomore quarterback Derek Potter couldn’t connect on a pass near the goal line.

Just like that, Denair’s comeback attempt was over.

Still, there were many positives for Armas to take away; in particular, the performances of Potter (9 of 13 passing, 188 yards and one touchdown), fullback Degan Butler (19 carries, 107 yards, three TDs) and the offensive line.

“Anytime you have a sophomore who shows the poise he did, that’s impressive,” Armas said. “He completed 70% of passes and threw the ball well.”

Armas also was impressed by Butler as well as the guys who blocked for him.

“Butler ran hard and our O-line played pretty well. We had long drives all night. We didn’t punt once,” he said.

 A back-and-forth first half featuring a lot of offense ended in a 22-22. Butler’s third touchdown – a 22-yard scamper to open the third quarter – followed by a two-point conversion put Denair in front 30-22.

Big Valley tied the game late in the third period, then took the lead with a nice drive in the fourth quarter. That led to Denair’s final possession, which unfortunately came up a few yards short.

“I thought our offense played really well, but the defense didn’t play up to its capabilities,” Armas said. “We didn’t tackle very well. We had guys running right by ball carriers. I think we can get better. If we had performed up to par, I think we win that game.”

This week, Denair faces another tough task with a road game against Summerville, which knocked off Ripon Christian 24-21 on Friday night.

“Summerville is pretty tough. They’re legit,” Armas said. “It’s going to be physical challenge. It’s a good measuring stick to where we’re at.”

Family: Husband, John; daughters, Saylor and Isabelle

School: Denair Middle School

Subject taught: Seventh-grade math and seventh- and eighth-grade STEM

Experience and education:  Master’s degree in teaching middle grades mathematics and a bachelor’s in science materials engineering. I began my teaching career in Georgia in 2013.  

What attracted you to Denair? Denair Middle School has a welcoming and inclusive feeling immediately when you walk on campus. This is a positive reflection upon its students and their families.  I am excited to teach mathematics and develop a rigorous curriculum in STEM that will support all students in becoming critical thinkers and problem solvers.

What most inspires you about teaching? I am most inspired by the positive interactions that schools, their teachers and staff have with students and their families. 

What is a challenge you look forward to tackling this year? My biggest challenge may be in choosing which colors to wear (or not to wear) once sorted into the DMS House System.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? A favorite activity is using project-based learning in which students learn to strengthen their skills as they work towards a common goal. 

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember that their voices matter within our learning spaces.

How can parents support what you do? I would like families to support their students by encouraging them to actively participate in their education.  Families are an important part of a student’s success and I value their support.

What would surprise people about your job? I imagine that people would be surprised by the amount of listening we do as educators. 

What do you do for fun? For fun, I enjoy camping and hiking with my family.