Following a 36-21 victory over Stone Ridge Christian (Merced) on Friday night at Jack Lytton Stadium, Denair High School’s football team is off to a 4-1 start for just the second time in the past two decades.
The last time the Coyotes won four of their first five came seven years ago when they captured the CIF Division 7-AA state championship. And while it’s too early to compare this year’s squad to its 2018 counterpart, it’s clear that the 2025 campaign is shaping up to be something special for the Purple and White.
“We definitely think this can be a special team,” said Anthony Armas, now in his 11th season as Denair’s head coach. “We’re just not sure yet how special we can be.”
Once again, the Coyotes’ running attack led the way, picking up 8.4 yards per carry.
Junior running back Connor Hart produced 164 yards on eight carries (20.5 per attempt) — with nearly half of that coming on a 73-yard scamper that gave Denair a 15-7 first-quarter lead — and Degan Butler amassed 117 yards and three touchdowns on 20 totes (5.9 per attempt). Bryson Salazar, meanwhile, chipped in with 63 yards on 13 tries (4.9). For the season, the Coyotes are averaging 9 yards every time they rush the football.
“Having options as to what we can do and who we can give the ball to, not to mention the confidence that the play will be successful, makes play-calling so much easier,” said Armas.
Through the air, Derek Potter connected on three of six attempts for 41 yards and a 24-yard scoring strike to Harlan Brown, who was good on all four of his PAT attempts and had an interception on defense.
Up next for the Coyotes is a Southern League matchup at Gustine (2-3), which is coming off a 22-16 loss to Mariposa.
Atwater 29, Pitman 26 @ Atwater
The Pride were unable to grab their coveted fourth win of the season on Friday, which would’ve clinched the program’s best record since 2018, as they suffered a road loss, 29-26, to Atwater in the waning seconds of regulation.
With Pitman holding a 26-22 lead thanks to a 30-yard touchdown reception by senior Stephan Schmidt on a throw from quarterback RJ Wilharm with just over a minute left on the clock, the dynamic Falcons offense drove 90 yards, capped off with a 6-yard touchdown strike from Ali Banks Jr to Charlie Whitby in the back corner of the endzone. The Pride couldn’t muster a miracle with the eight seconds remaining.
Pitman’s record dropped to 3-2 entering this week’s bye. They’ll be back in action to open Central California Athletic League play on Oct. 3 when they host Modesto High at Joe Debely Stadium. The Panthers will enter the contest at 2-2, with wins against Johansen and Bear Creek (Stockton) and losses to Sierra of Manteca and Central Valley of Ceres. The Pride defeated CV by a 28-27 score in their season opener.
Despite the result on Friday, the Pride received another standout performance from senior running back Mason Helwick, who added a pair of touchdowns to his season total. He now has 14 scores and 541 ground yards on 96 carries on the year.
Helwick’s two scores came in the first half, helping the Pride hold a 13-7 lead. Atwater responded on their second possession of the third quarter when Banks aired out a bomb to 6-foot-5 wideout Sylas Austin from 45 yards out to take a 14-13 lead.
Pitman’s special teams gave them a lead with just over six minutes to play when a botched snap on a punt attempt saw the ball land right in the hands of senior Xadian Padilla to make it a 19-14 ballgame.
That celebration was short lived, as It took just four minutes for the Falcons to retake the lead when Whitby broke off a 20-yard touchdown run to set the stage for the frantic trading of touchdowns in the final two minutes.
- Chris Correa
