The Eastmark Firebirds held the parts to accomplish what they did in such a short time.

Their leader, quarterback Mack Molander, developed under one of the best in Arizona, Scooter, Molander’s dad and Eastmark’s coach.

Their other main threat, wide receiver Austin Johnston, kept getting open during Saturday's game just like he did during the regular season. 

The Firebirds also dressed their first large senior class and received a lot of support from their administration and coaching staff.

That combination helped the football program and Eastmark High secure their first team championship trophy after defeating Thatcher 42-21 at Desert Vista in the 3A Conference title tilt. It took Eastmark three short varsity seasons to get to the top.

The Firebirds were also in a hurry to finish off a Thatcher program with a strong football tradition and following. Seeing Johnston and Eastmark break away from Thatcher in the second half was, for outsiders and probably Thatcher’s fans, unexpected.

A walk off field goal handed Thatcher a 31-30 home victory over Eastmark in the second week of the 3A regular season. But another key component, middle linebacker Caden Armstrong, was missing for Eastmark that night.

That loss, however, coupled with a win over 4A semifinalist American Leadership Academy Gilbert North the following week were the turning points. Eastmark (13-1) didn’t falter again after that road defeat.

When Thatcher trailed 21-14 after scoring on its opening drive of the second half, Eastmark answered by scoring on three of its next four possessions. Johnston caught two of his three touchdowns in that span, and Molander completed his outstanding night with a 1-yard touchdown keeper with 3:04 left.

“Last time we didn’t finish the game strong,” Johnston said. “We were up by 14 points going into halftime, same score as this game, and we didn’t close out the game. We just let off the gas. In this game we kept the pedal down and kept pushing and scored touchdowns.”

Johnston, the 3A’s scoring and receiving leader this season, had 171 receiving yards on seven receptions in his final high school game.

Molander, also a senior, tossed as many touchdowns, three, as he ran in. Running against Thatcher’s experienced front seven proved futile, so Eastmark had Molander roll out to pass for some big gains.

The night before the final, Molander’s mom, Teresa, allowed him to break a rule along with his dad. Football chalk talk is prohibited at home, but since dad and son were about to participate in the biggest game of the year, Teresa gave them a pass to preapre for the final one last time.

“That really paid off,” Molander said. “I had no mental errors today.”

Of the 37 touchdowns Molander passed this season, 22 went to Johnston.

Mack Molander (left), Austin Johnston and their teammates flexed their muscles during Saturday's 3A final. (Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

“We are so close,” said Johnston about his bond with Molander. “We’ve only known each other for two years, (but) we’ve trained almost every single day after school and even in the offseason. It’s been incredible, and it’s great to see it finally pay off.”

Eastmark’s defense also played a big role in handing 13-1 Thatcher its first loss of the year.

That unit created three turnovers and sacked quarterback Brandon Napier four times. Two of those sacks were collected by defensive end Carson Minnaar, who tied Armstrong for team-high tackle honors with eight and also had 3.5 tackles for loss.

Eastmark’s D also held Thatcher’s run attack to 182 yards. Napier returned to action after being injured in the quarterfinals. 

Thatcher made its 12th championship appearance Saturday but first since joining the 3A in 2020.

Thatcher reached its first final since joining the 3A Conference. (Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365)“I told them they are the best 3A team out there,” said Thatcher coach Daniel Jones about what he told his boys after the game. “I stand by it. That was a great group of kids. It was a pleasure to coach them.”

The architect of Eastmark’s quick rise is Scooter.

Fifteen years after winning his last ring as a coach while he was at Brophy, the veteran didn’t allow Father Time to get in the way of one of his most fulfilling seasons as a coach and father. Another son, Miles, got to help assist Scooter’s team this season.

“It (program) is in the right place,” Scooter said. “We do things the right way, because we have great leadership. We have a bright future.”