Sicaly Sorrell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover McClintock High School for AZPreps365.com

Junior transfer Aidan Whitaker scored five touchdowns in his McClintock Chargers debut in a dominant 72-0 victory against Paradise Valley on Thursday night in Tempe. 

The Chargers set the tone early, returning a recovered fumble 50 yards for a touchdown by sophomore Bodhisattva Kaanga with 10:52 left in the first quarter.

Before this matchup, the Chargers went 1-4 during the first five games of the season. After an exciting Week 1 win against the Camelback Spartans, the Chargers lost three straight games to the Gilbert Tigers, Marco De Niza Padres, Westwood Warriors and the Horizon Huskies, who are undefeated at (5-0). 

“I told them going into this week, it’s a brand new season,” McClintock coach Nick Offenberger said. “What’s happened in the first five games is done, and now we have an opportunity to go make a run at region.”  

Offenberger said getting their transfer players on the field elevated the team’s play, but highlighted junior transfer Whitaker as a difference-maker.

“Putting Aidan in at quarterback was a spark plug for us because the team really rallies behind him,” Offenberger said.

Whitaker originally played wide receiver and defensive back, but Offenberger moved him to quarterback after Kaiden Agbunag’s injury in Week 1 against Camelback. Offenberger said Agbunag underwent surgery a few weeks ago and is currently rehabbing.

“With us needing a quarterback after Kaiden went down, it was a no-brainer,” Offenberger said. “He’s played quarterback for me, and it’s not new for him to run this offense. He’s being selfless and doing what’s best for the team.”

Whitaker proved to be a dual threat, scoring a 5-yard rushing touchdown with 5:31 left in the first quarter, then connecting on a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jesus Otero to close the period. He added two more touchdowns before halftime, extending the lead to 44-0. 

He capped his night off by throwing a 55-yard TD to Kaanga to close the third quarter.

“The tone was really to perform how we haven’t been performing, and we just came out and did what we should be doing,” Whitaker said.  

Whitaker, a three-star athlete who transferred from Saguaro High School to McClintock this summer, had to sit out the first five games of the season due to transfer and eligibility rules. 

“Everybody has some nerves before a game, but it was really just a lot of excitement,” He said. 

Offenberger said he played 13 transfer athletes, giving the roster more depth and experience.

Freshman running back and safety Preston Molina also contributed on the ground, including a TD in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 65-0. 

“Throughout the season, there was no doubt,” Molina said. “We just trusted God and trusted coach Nick.”

Molina said if the Chargers keep working, there is no ceiling to how good they can be.

The Chargers had a brief injury scare when running back CP Parsons went down early in the third quarter after taking a hit.

“Thank God, he’s fine. I think I almost had a heart attack just because of all the injuries we’ve faced this year,” Offenberger said. “He took a helmet to the knee, so he came out for a little bit, but he wanted to come back in. We decided to shut him down for the night.”

With their first regional win secured, the Chargers (2-4, 1-0) will look to keep momentum next Friday when they visit the Goldwater Bulldogs (3-2, 0-0) at 7 p.m.

Paradise Valley (3-3, 0-1) will host the Ironwood Eagles (1-4, 0-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.