LIVINGSTON — All week long, the Denair High football team knew what was on the line.
The Coyotes knew they had a couple of obstacles to overcome in last Friday night’s Southern League finale against Turlock Christian High at the Livingston High football stadium, in what is known as the Monte Vista Showdown between the schools that sit along the road that connects Denair and Turlock. They also knew that the winner would secure a spot in the playoffs, which is enough motivation for any team.
“This team is very talented,” Denair coach Gregory Therion said.
That talent was apparent, as the usual suspects of quarterback Codee Watts and running back Dylan Souza were more than enough to lift the Coyotes to a 39-10 triumph that gave them an extended season. Denair also supplied a 12-0 first-quarter advantage and shut out the Eagles in the second half, which all helped the Coyotes return to the postseason after missing it in 2008.
The 5-5 Coyotes will face 5-5 Highlands High in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs in North Highlands at 7 p.m. on Friday. Denair is happy to be back in the postseason, and the players and coaches hope to extend their run to two more weeks and play in the division title game.
The Coyotes (5-5, 3-2 SL) proved once again last Friday night that they have the talent to do so.
Souza ran in two first-half scores of 3 and 6 yards that gave Denair a 19-3 lead before Turlock Christian’s Robby Smallwood connected with Cody Alldrin with a 38-yard touchdown pass. However, Watts quickly supplied a response: He rushed for a 13-yard TD before halftime and the Coyotes were up 25-10.
And it was all Coyotes from there.
“Our game plan was to get the ball to our scorers, to our athletes and let (Turlock Christian) play catchup,” Therion said. “We knew over there they had Smallwood and Alldrin and we knew we had guys who can match up against them. Once we got up on them, we knew we had a chance to win.”
The Coyotes held the Eagles (6-4, 2-3 SL) to zero points in the second half, and earned an 11-yard TD run from Watts in the third quarter followed by Souza’s third score of the night, as this was a 3-yard run in the fourth that more than secured the win.
Souza rushed 18 times for 125 yards for three TDs, Nick Francis supplied his team’s first score in the first quarter (as well as a spectacular second-half dash that showcased his ability to leap over a defender), Watts completed 9-of-13 passes for 87 yards and no interceptions and Dominik Machado issued two sacks and recovered a fumble.
Turlock Christian also had some highlights, including Beau Warda kicking in a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter. And Smallwood finished with 11-of-24 passing for 196 yards and one TD.
It wasn’t enough, however.
“Our defense helped a lot,” Souza said. “We held them to 10 points. That’s pretty good.”