DENAIR – Following their 27-13 playoff loss to River Islands on Friday at Jack Lytton Stadium, Denair High underclassmen formed two parallel lines between which the seniors walked and hugged each teammate as they passed them.
Waiting at the end of the formation was head coach Anthony Armas, who embraced each senior – most had tears in their eyes – and thanked them for all they did to enhance the program.
It was an historic run for the seniors, who won back-to-back Southern League titles – this year’s being the first outright championship in two decades – and earned back-to-back trips to the postseason, something that has happened only three other times this century.
“This is such a great group of guys,” said Armas, who guided the Coyotes to consecutive playoff berths in 2018 and 2019. “They’re talented, hard-working … and they just know how to have fun. Coming out to practice and being around them every day was just so fun.”
Denair (9-2) drew the No. 4 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 7 bracket but knew the Riptide (9-2) would play above their No. 5 seeding. River Islands was battle tested in the Mother Lode League, which boasts No. 1 Calaveras (San Andreas) and No. 3 Linden.
River Islands snapped a 6-6 tie late in the second half when tight end Amadeo Erilim hauled in a touchdown pass from Daryl Carpenter to make it 14-6 with less than two minutes to play in the first half.
The Tide got the ball to start the second half and, when Denair attempted an onside kick, took advantage of the short field and marched 53 yards on eight plays for a 20-6 lead when running back Darien East slammed in from the 4-yard line.
The Coyotes punted on their next possession, and so did River Islands. But the Riptide’s punt was fielded by Harlan Brown near midfield, and he returned it to the 10, giving Denair first-and-goal with 2:29 to play in the third quarter.
However, a facemask penalty and a false start put the ball on the 20, and on second down, quarterback Derek Potter was flushed out of the pocket and his pass was picked off by Gabriel Ramirez.
The Tide eventually crossed midfield before turning the ball over on downs with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter. Potter went 4-for-4 on the ensuing drive, capping it with a 23-yard TD strike to John Wilmoth with 4:40 remaining.
Denair attempted another onside kick – and it was a good one – but Martin Carillo eventually came up with the ball for River Islands, which once again took advantage of the short field and scored four plays later – set up by a 39-yard connection from Carpenter to Michael Figueroa – when Lucas Ruiz ran in from the 10 to make it 27-13.
Had the Coyotes eschewed the onside kick, down one score, and attempted to pin the Riptide deep in their own territory, they might’ve had a better shot at getting the ball back with a chance to tie.
“I have no regrets about calling that onside kick there,” said Armas. “It was a good one; we almost recovered it. And they hit a long pass – one of their few long completions of the night. I can live with that.”
On Denair’s first play from scrimmage in the opening quarter, Prince Presley intercepted Potter – who was hit as he threw by Brayden Dell’Osso – and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.
The Coyotes tied the score when Noah Chavez dashed in from 20 yards out.
River Islands will travel next week to take on Calaveras, which beat Rio Vista 62-6 in its playoff opener Friday. The Red Hawks and Riptide met Sept. 25 in Lathrop, with Calaveras cruising to a 48-6 win. The Red Hawks have not allowed more than seven points in a game since Sept. 11.
