Collin Ring is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student who covers Eastmark High School for AZPreps365.com.

Successful high school football programs have learned that sustaining their programs depends on two things: reflecting on what has occurred and planning for what is to come. Queen Creek’s Eastmark High School recently finished its first varsity football season. The Firebirds competed during a pandemic, and without a senior class. Success was not given, and wins did not come easily. However, those directly involved with the program are filled with pride for what their young team accomplished and hope for what future seasons will bring.

“The coaches were dealt a tough hand this year,” said Kraig Leuschner, Eastmark’s athletic director. “The success of a football program depends on preparation, and the way coaches prepare is a weekly routine. With changes to schedules happening in some cases the day or two before a game, the coaches were forced to adapt quickly and step out of that comfortable routine.”

The Firebirds were outscored 262-123 during their inaugural season, which was filled with youth, COVID-19 restrictions and opportunities for growth. The point deficit was also accompanied by a 2-6 record. The Firebirds struggled during the first half of the season as they started 0-4 and were outscored 163-13. However, as the season progressed, the Firebirds quickly saw improvements on both sides of the ball. They finished much stronger, ending with a 2-2 record after a winless opening. In those two losses late in the season, the Firebirds averaged 27.5 points. That's a huge jump compared to their first four losses where they barely averaged three points. The improvement and growth had become clear to those involved in and watching the Firebird program.

It is safe to assume that, with all the uncertainty of the pandemic and the inexperience of a young team, the comfortable coaching routine Leuschner referenced never got established for the veteran Firebird staff. However, positive takeaways from what may seem like a disappointing season are obvious to those surrounding the program.

“I was impressed with our student athletes seeing the process through,” Leuschner said. “It’s hard to play juniors and seniors with a roster that is composed mostly of underclassmen.”

Chris Driving Hawk, the team’s line coach, and Adam Schiermyer, the Firebirds’ offensive coordinator, agree with Leuschner regarding the young student athletes’ commitment and perseverance. According to Schiermyer, the youth and inexperience of the team elicited an alternative coaching approach.

Coach Scooter Molander leads his team and discuess the game plan heading into the second half.  (Photo Courtesy @ehs_firebirds on Twitter)“I feel like we used how we prepared as a team to encourage our players against more experienced players,” Schiermyer said. “The way we practice, the tempo, discipline and conditioning, it helps keep us in every ball game, even with a few years gap in age."

The gaps in age, and experience, are how the Firebirds grew so much. They had to work harder; they had to play harder. This young team had to dedicate more focus and effort to their practices and games in order to stay competitive against older, more experienced teams. And the coaches know that. Driving Hawk especially is proud of the weekly progress his young men made.

“The linemen grew up over the year and they improved tremendously from week to week,” Driving Hawk said. “They were going against players older and stronger and they did what they were capable of.”

Schiermyer was especially impressed with his freshman.

“I think what impressed me the most is how many freshmen stepped in and played a huge role,” Schiermyer said. “It’s not easy for so many freshmen to come in and be an impact player, having never played high school sports let alone a varsity sport.”

This season, the challenges didn’t end with the players and coaches on the field. COVID-19 forced the Firebird gridiron to play with a limited number of fans allowed at games, a limited number of supporters encouraging them from the bleachers and sideline. This didn’t only affect the players but spilled over to the cheerleaders and pom team who were forced into a completely different approach as well.

“It’s normally the energy of the crowd that pumps our pommies and cheerleaders up, so from a coaching perspective it was really about getting our team into this mindset about finding that motivation from within,” pom coach Sarah Harrison said. “Especially when we went to away games. Many of our away games, our fans were not allowed to come, but it was still just as important, if not more, that we were cheering just as loud for our Eastmark Firebirds."

Finding that internal motivation is exactly what the pom and football teams did. They played for themselves and set out to establish themselves during the 2020-2021 season.

Subsequent seasons should bring increased success to the Firebird football program. The foundation of the athletic programs at Eastmark is rooted in its core values: A culture built on healthy relationships by modeling desired behaviors, commitment to excellence in all that we do, and collaborative culture committed to results. The coaches have been successfully implementing these values which, in turn, developed the commitment and perseverance of all Eastmark athletes.

This past season, many of players on Eastmark’s team found themselves playing on both sides of the ball. With the linemen being key to blocking for Gianni Masculino, the Firebird quarterback, and also stopping their opponents from driving downfield, Driving Hawk has his work cut out for him. He already has goals set for his linemen for the upcoming season.

“Get stronger and faster,” Driving Hawk said. “Then learn the game and why their techniques need to match the scheme.”

This theory holds true for all of the inexperienced Firebirds. In order to experience success, they will need to grow both physically and mentally. And the experienced coaches are confident that this will happen.

During the 2021-2022 season, keep your eyes open for Driving Hawk’s offensive players like Jacob Tramp, Mason Williams, and Reese Quiros, all of whom bring size and potential to the line. Defensively, the Firebirds expect great things from Jayvery Mayberry, Preston Bradford and Ryan Maichl, who have all improved their technique this year and can only get better.

Likewise, Schiermyer has high expectations. Four players that Schiermyer is expecting big things from include three freshmen: Javien Celaya, Javery Mayberry and Jordan Howard, along with sophomore Austin Johnston. These players will continue to develop, and their combination will greatly improve the Firebird team, giving them a much greater chance of playoffs in the upcoming seasons. Schiermyer displays pride and hope for next year when he talks about these players.

“Javien Celaya is a freshman running back that will be as good as any in the state by the time he is a senior,” Schiermyer said. “Javery Mayberry, a defensive end and tight end, has the length and athleticism to be dominant on both sides of the ball. Jordan Howard another freshman defensive end, he has incredible size, strength and sound technique. Sophomore defensive back and wide receiver Austin Johnston led the team in tackles and interceptions, a ball hawk and a great wide receiver with soft hands.”

The cheerleaders will be on the sidelines encouraging the team and rallying the fans. COVID-19 has stalled the development of the young programs at Eastmark, but Harrison is excited for what's to come.

“Next season we are hopeful that we will see a larger number of fans in the stands and have the ability to engage with the crowd and throw swag and different items out into the stands,” Harrison said. “But at the end of the day, even if things look the same next year, we will be right there cheering along our football program whatever opportunity we are provided. There's no place we'd rather be than under the Friday Night Lights.”

Under the Friday Night Lights is where the Eastmark Firebirds will continue to work, grow, and establish themselves. Don’t count Eastmark out of future playoff contention based on its inaugural performance. As the Firebirds battle through growing pains, build team chemistry and learn from each game day experience, they are bound to rise from their setbacks and make their mark on Arizona high school football. Leuschner is excited for what's in store, especially next season when Eastmark has seniors take the field for the first time.

“With only a handful of juniors this year, our senior class is going to be very small,” Leuschner said. “Nothing is given to Coach Scooter Molander, so I am hopeful our junior class goes all in this offseason, so that as seniors they can earn the opportunity to take the field as captains, starters, or contributors.”