FLAGSTAFF — Chuck VanDyke scored three touchdowns, freshman quarterback Bryson Sinsheimer tossed two scores and Paradise Honors made quick work of Flagstaff at the Walkup Skydome in a 56-14 win on Friday night.

It is the second straight win to start the season for the Panthers (2-0, 0-0 4A Skyline), which raised everyone’s eyebrows a season ago with a 31-21 upset for No. 9 Peoria as the 24 seed in the 4A state playoffs last November.

Needless to say, expectations are high.

Sinsheimer, who is barely 15 years old and is already getting varsity reps at quarterback for a team wanting to go places in 2026, didn’t seem phased by the bright lights of the Skydome on the campus of Northern Arizona University.

“It feels good starting at a young age, I trained a lot this offseason,” said Sinsheimer, who had few words during what was likely his first high school interview with the media.

Don’t worry, they’ll be plenty more opportunities to speak his mind for this young man, who stands 5-foot-8 and tips the scales at 140 pounds soaking wet.

Coach Josh Sekoch said they didn’t expect Sinsheimer to do so well Friday, especially on the 30-plus yard rocket he threw to Kellen Roiko for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.

“We’re not surprised the arm is there, you just have to deal with some stuff, he’s a freshman. He might be 14, actually,” Sekoch said with a laugh. “He’s been preparing for this. We knew when he came in that eventually, he’ll be the dude. It was just a matter of time, he just needs a little experience.”

SeKoch elaborated on his plans for the young freshman, stating that he’s already changing the way Paradise Honors plays the game.

“We have a tough region coming up … and we must play complimentary football, which is run and throw at the same time. That’s what Bryson gives us,” Sekoch said. “Last year we didn’t have the ability to push it downfield, but that post to Kellen [Roiko] was a rocket. That’s not something you can teach. But he’ll grow, you must let him make those freshman mistakes.”

The 4A Skyline is one of the tougher regions with Paradise Honors, ALA-West Foothills, Peoria, St. Mary’s and Northwest Christian always in the mix for a Top 10 seed at state.

HOW THEY SCORED

VanDyke started things off with a 63-yard touchdown run to open things up for Paradise Honors, giving them a 7-0 lead just 2:21 into Friday’s contest.

On the ensuing kickoff, there was some confusion as to if the ball was touched by Gio Serna as it bounced helplessly into the endzone. But while Serna had his hands up, Benjamin Miller was picking up the bobbling ball in the endzone for a score to put the Panthers up 14-0.

After a muffed punt by Flagstaff, Sinsheimer threw an interception, but the Panthers got it right back and watched Ty Woodhouse-Gandy score on a 48-yard sprint to make it 21-0.

Near the end of the first quarter, Flagstaff answered with an Adan Garcia touchdown, but VanDyke would have none of it, scoring a 5-yard touchdown to make it 28-7 at the 10:42 mark of the second quarter.

It was the first of two scores for Garcia.

After Sinsheimer’s rocket to Roiko for a score to make it 42-14, VanDyke scored his third touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run to put the game out of reach, 49-14, with 2:30 to play in the third quarter.

INJURY

Later in the fourth with just over 9 minutes to play, VanDyke ran 15-yards down the right sideline but was hit hard. He walked off the field under his own power but slammed his helmet down and went straight to the locker room.

“He’s the most consistent kid we got, and you don’t like to see him get hurt,” Sekoch said.

VanDyke reportedly broke his collar bone, which was an injury he suffered last season during the state playoffs. It could be at least 6 weeks or longer before he returns, if at all.

UP NEXT

Regardless of the 2-0 start, Sekoch said their focus is always “win today.”

“One week at a time. You can’t let teenagers think about the end game, it must be the next day,” Sekoch said. “They will think about it, and they may have ideas in their head, but we will just have a good practice on Monday.”

Paradise Honors is scheduled to travel to Poston Butte on Sept. 11, 7 p.m.

As for Flagstaff, the Eagles (0-2, 0-0 4A Grand Canyon) heads to Tempe to face the Buffaloes, who opened the season with a 59-7 win over Alhambra but lost to Chaparral on Friday night 57-0.

Kickoff on Sept. 11 is at 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.