At Eastmark, father-son duo has built a 3A championship contender

Last September, Mesa Eastmark coach Scooter Molander was faced with a dilemma.

His quarterback, Gianni Mascolino, had exceled through the season’s first five games, throwing 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. But the Firebirds were just 2-3 after dropping thrillers to Mohave Valley River Valley and Tucson Pusch Ridge. And now, Mack Molander — Scooter’s son, who had to sit out the first five games after transferring from Queen Creek — was eligible to play.

So, separating dad from coach, Scooter Molander recused himself from the vote. Among the other coaches, the decision was unanimous: Mack Molander would be Eastmark’s starting quarterback.

“He earned the starting job based upon where we were at that point, halfway through the season and then what he had done in practice and studying of film and his preparation,” Scooter Molander said.

Over the ensuing two months, the move paid off.

Eastmark beat ALA-Ironwood, 50-16, in Mack Molander’s first game. A week later, Molander threw for five touchdowns and 277 yards, leading the Firebirds past a strong Coolidge team, 31-18. For five weeks, Eastmark didn’t stop winning. Thanks to Molander, they went from 2-6 in 2021 and 2-3 to start 2021 to a 7-3 finish, sneaking into the 3A playoffs as the No. 11 seed.

The dream ended there, with River Valley again getting the better of Eastmark. But, over that final month and a half, Molander established himself as the Firebirds’ future.

In six games, he completed 65.1% of his passes for 1,367 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

“I had some good competition at quarterback last year,” Molander, now a senior, said. “I had to learn how to compete for the job and learn how to handle the situation when I did win the job, which was something I hadn't really experienced before at a varsity level. So that was a good experience for me.”

Entering the year, Molander had understandable concerns about perceptions of favoritism, with his dad as the head coach.

“Some problems do occur with that,” he said Tuesday. “That's just how it is.”

To negate any problems that may have arisen, Molander said, “I made sure I worked my butt off twice as hard as I would have if I wasn't his son.”

In turn, he felt mutual respect with his teammates throughout the season. That paid off most in Molander’s relationship with star receiver Austin Johnston, who Molander called a “great friend” off the field.

Johnston — the son of special teams and wide receivers coach Mike Johnston — finished the season with 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“The best teams at any level can run and throw,” Scooter Molander said. “We want to be multi-faceted. We like to run multiple formations and throw and run out of all of them. It is by design. And you have to have the players to be able to do it and fortunately we do.”

This season, Mack Molander and Johnston’s connection has the Firebirds thinking big. “Ultimate goal, week by week, win every game, hopefully win all 14,” Molander said.

From a personal perspective, he hopes to continue receiving additional college interest. Thus far, he’s been talking to FCS and Division II schools, such as Idaho and Colorado School of Mines, but has not received any offers.

To make his personal and team goals a reality, Molander has focused his off-season work on the mental side of the game.

“Just more confidently checking stuff at the line if I have to do that,” Molander said. “… It's just studying the offense in my free time. Learning the protections that we run, learning the defense, what their tendencies are for blitzes and everything and what they might be doing to make sure I'll be safe back there.”

Thatcher a stiff test

Eastmark travels 2½ hours east on Friday to take on Thatcher for its first 3A conference game. The Firebirds won their opener last Friday, 33-7, at Robertson H.S., in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The Eagles will be a major early season litmus test for Eastmark’s title ambitions. Despite losing most of their key contributors from last season’s 8-4 team, Thatcher beat Eager Round Valley — which went 10-2 last year — 42-14 in their season opener.

Running back Ayden Bingham had a massive game, rushing for 183 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. New quarterback Brandon Napier was also stellar, completing 6-of-7 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while adding 35 yards on the ground.

“They're a very big, physical football team,” Scooter Molander said. “Very well coached. They beat a good Round Valley team last week. And they have great tradition. Any time you play a team on the road, it's always a challenge. So we know that we're in for a very challenging ballgame.”

Theo Mackie covers Arizona high school sports and Phoenix Rising FC. He can be reached by email at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: At Eastmark, father-son duo has built a championship contender