(Scooter Molander/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

Andrew "Scooter" Molander coached Brophy Prep to two state championships and a runner-up finish in his first four years on the job with the Broncos. A winning culture, and what it took to get there, was mostly in place at the private school and Hamilton was the only program able to match that output from 2005 to 2008. It was a philosophy. It was the only way.

Now, a generation later, Molander is filling the role of a “first-year” coach once again, but this time with a program that only became a varsity program this fall. A 41-6 loss at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Friday night was, in a way, expected from a program with no seniors and a program in search of a culture. And, if the players will take notice, Molander will be with them along the way.

“I am not concerned, I am hopeful,” Molander told his young team after the loss in Oro Valley. “We can get things corrected. We can take ownership. We are all in this together.”

Pusch Ridge is an established program with a proven winning philosophy that has endured through several different coaching changes in this past decade alone and first-year head coach Kent Middleton appears to be the perfect fit for a program that wins on and off the field. His gentle approach, and his complete trust in his assistants, can be traced back to 32 years on the sidelines as an assistant coach.

“The sideline for me is the easy part. That’s where I’m comfortable,” Middleton explained after his first win as a head coach. “I have a staff that’s phenomenal. They are experienced coaches who have had great success elsewhere. I really believe they are what makes us special.”

A staff full of experienced assistant coaches with head coaching experience is valuable and that value builds upon itself when a program has experienced and dominant players such as senior running back Evan Lovett.

Lovett finished the night with 141 yards rushing on six touches and three of those went the distance. Jr. RB Javier Grajeda added 132 yards including a 1-yard run to put the Lions up 7-0 with 2:39 in the first. In all, Eastmark punted six times and gave the ball away on a fumble to end all seven possessions in the first half.

(Tyler Mustain tackles Kaiden McCarty/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

The Firebirds had three first downs in the first half but that will also change as the year goes by, especially with So. QB Gianni Masculino learning to read defenses and learning how to control a game. Players like Lovett thrive on stalled possessions and he cashed in on a 62-yard run and a 10-yard dash to put Pusch Ridge up 20-0 at the half.

The Lions added another score when Jr. QB Ryan Fontaine hit Jr. WR Jayden Rittenbach from 12 yards with 31 seconds left in the third and a 36-yard interception return from Jr. DB Hayden Hallett made the score 34-0 12 seconds later.

Lovett made it 41-0 on a 20-yard run with 6:09 left in the game and Masculino engineered a 70-yard drive in the final six minutes to put the Firebirds on the board with a 7-yard pass to Javery Mayberry.

Pusch Ridge gained 456 yards of offense and Eastmark had 174 with Masculino coming up with 116 yards passing on 15 of 33 attempts. Jr. RB Ebin Stanley had 30 yards rushing, Mayberry added 40 yards receiving and So. WR Alejandro Campos had 28.

For Pusch Ridge, Fontaine threw for 90 yards and ran for 59 more. Sr. TE Phillip Raica rushed for 47 yards to go along with the totals from Lovett and Grajeda.

The late drive from the Firebirds may not have had an important outcome in the final score but it showed something to Molander.

“What I saw tonight was a team that didn’t quit,” Molander added.

Things will get more difficult for both teams from here with Eastmark hosting Bourgade Catholic (1-0) next Friday and Pusch Ridge traveling to Yuma Catholic on the same night.

“We were hungry and we couldn’t wait to play,” Middleton added. “They are hungry and there’s some good talent out there. We just have to put some shine on the rough edges.”

Ken Middleton/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)