Staff writer Jason P. Skoda  took a unique approach to Friday night coverage of a long distant road trip as Benjamin Franklin traveled Thatcher High before arriving at Southeastern Arizona for a 3A matchup. The 147-mile trip took 2 hours and 47 minutes to reach Thatcher High in the Gila Valley. It is written in the form a timeline from the time the players were let out of class until they arrived back at campus nearly 12 hours later.

Ben Franklin Charter School in Queen Creek

12:15 p.m. – The B lunch bell rings and students start filing out of rooms and into the hallways. Most students were going to their normal hangouts for lunch. Players on A lunch schedule are excused from their fourth hour class.

The football players headed to their lockers or cars to get what they needed, and most made their way to the coaches office where head coach Danny Norris was preparing for an extra long version of Friday Night Lights.

12:27 – Norris shows assistant athletic Marc Beasley the first offensive play of the game on his laptop. It’s a weekly tradition for two. Both agree it might pop for a big one.

12:33 – Assistant coach Kendall Tobin helped himself to some brownies that have been in the office for about three days and definitely not as fresh as they once were and a bit picked over. The former offensive lineman has slimmed down but clearly part of him still relates to the big guys in the trenches.

12:36 – Players start migrating toward the buses, putting their equipment underneath the traditional yellow bus. Ben Franklin athletic director Shawn Lytle explains, much to this writer’s dismay, that Norris could have had one charter bus and one yellow bus.

Instead of risking the perceived separation between “the good bus and the bad bus,” he chose to have both busses be equal. It takes out the risk of some players being perceived as being more important and an unintentional hierarchy.

It’s a glimpse into a coach’s philosophy of family and togetherness.

12:41 – Players and coaches grab their lunches before starting the long journey. Sandwiches, chips, cookies, gatorades. All the usual suspects of a bagged lunch.

12:55 – All players are settled and ready to rock. And then some foolish fool left his R2D2 hydro flask in the coaches’ office. The reporter, the only one on the trip, will remain nameless to protect those involved.

1:01 – The buses begin to pull out of the school parking lot, heading west on Germann and turning north on Power Rd. to pick up the 202 east. Once the bus reaches the 60 and heads east it’s essentially a straight shot.

(Side note – Norris adjusts departure time for about 30 minutes later than he originally planned after realizing their usual pregame routine needs to changed because the field at Eastern Arizona does not have locker rooms. They have nowhere to go after pregame warm ups for the positional breakdown conversations or to get out of the heat. Instead they’ll meet in the north end zone while Thatcher has the south end zone.)

1:53 – The mostly subdue bus ride moves into a conversation between assistant Devin Strang, Tobin and Norris about last year’s defense and how stingy it was in finishing as the 3A state runners-up. Only one team – River Valley – found the end zone more than two times and that same team only managed six points this year. This year’s defense has a chance to be even better.

2:01 – The conversation as the bus approaches the incline just east of Superior about how Name, Image and Likeness works at the high school level. It’s allowed at the high school level but the promotions can not include school gear or name and can not be filmed on school property.

It evolves into the state’s best players in previous generations would have cleaned up. Bijan Robinson, Terrell Suggs, Bryce Perkins, Everson Griffin, N’Keal Harry, etc.

2:03 – I break into my snacks – first up Carmel Cashew trail mix for Target. Incredible. Does the job. Nearly house the whole bag. Wash it down with my Crystal Light strawberry with caffeine in the aforementioned R2D2 hyrdo.

2:21 – Reach Miami and I’m starting to realize how many schools we pass on the way. Apache Junction, Superior and Miami checked off. Globe, San Carlos and Pima will also be driven past on the way to Thatcher.

2:31 – Somewhere in between Miami and Globe the coaches spot another team in a parking lot getting in some stretches mid-trip.

It was St. Johns and a quick look at AzPreps365.com shows the northeast Arizona school was on its way to Eloy Santa Cruz – suddenly the trip to Thatcher doesn’t seem so bad.

2:38 – Norris starts singing the praises of the bus driver Alan and how he’s the best while adding Jeff, who is manning the other bus, is right there with him.

3:08 – Bus goes quiet again as we start getting close to the destination. I – being an avid hiker – stare out the southern horizon at all of the buttes and mountains that I need research and it isn’t long before Mt. Graham, a Gila Valley treasure, starts to find its way into the little picture window of my bus seat.

I will reach that summit. Fall break is just around the corner.

3:27 – Norris positions himself above his bus seat. He either knows he is getting close to Thatcher, checking on his players or giving his bum a rest above all else.

3:53 – The bus pulls into Thatcher and the prominent Eagle statue just outside of campus catches my eye as one of the coolest items I’ve seen at a school, letting you know you are entering school grounds.

The players change from their shirt and ties to athletic wear and make their way into the gym.

4:03 – The first football appears and Norris starts loosening up the arm and says “The old ball coach throws the pigskin” as the players start getting ready for a walk through in the Eagles’ gym.

4:12 – The gym suddenly fills with a certain pace and intensity. It’s what defensive coordinator Jeremy Sather brings. He’s putting the unit through the paces, preparing for what might come, the different looks and packages Thatcher will show in about three hours.

Prepared. Precision. Principles.

He also praises – “Beautiful. Line to line”

4:19 – He finishes with “Do your stinking job – you with me?”

“Yes, sir”

4:21 – Transition into offense walk through with offensive coordinator Aaron Malaela, a Thatcher product, running through some of the offense’s staple plays.

Quarterback Gavin Wyler is in his third year as starter. He takes Malaela’s in play calls and they seem to have a seamless connection. No sooner does the OC make a call and the QB executes it with a flick of the wrist.

4:27 – Sather is asked whether he preps more on last year’s game tape (BF won 27-12 at home) or what an opponent has put on tape this season. He intimates it is a little of both, but a lot depends on whether or not there is a change at the opposing offensive coordinator position.

4:31 – Everything wraps up. The players head to their locker room, blare some music and start getting their minds right. Coaches mainly stay in the gym, BSing, swapping stories.

Assistant coach Brandon Johnson, a 2006 Arizona Cardinal draft pick, shares some intriguing experiences from his NFL days.

But the biggest revelation by Johnson is that fact that the turf at Eastern Arizona is called “pivot turf,” Ever since reports from the frosh team that it is softer and bouncier than usual turf, Norris has been trying to find out what type of turf it is.

He is mystified by the fact that Johnson found the type of turf when he couldn’t find it in his google searches.

4:55 – A handful of players get together back in the gym for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes session and listen to quick devotion of the day.

“Everything is tied to a position of power.”

5:25 – Word comes from a player that Norris has a visitor. “Is he big and ugly?”

And you are now introduced in the back and forth between the two coaches – Thatcher’s Daniel Jones and Norris. Neither can remember exactly when they met but agree it must’ve been at a clinic.

Their mutual respect and brotherly love is immediately noticeable. They have a back and forth conversation that respectful and poignant. They kid each other about many things. Charter vs. public. Dad’s coaching vs. coaching staff. Enrollment numbers. The freshmen and JV results, both won by Thatcher. Availability of players who missed the previous week. And anything else that crosses their mind.

Norris calls them Shrek and Donkey. To me it is more of an Abbott and Costello routine. Constantly prodding and poking. These two constantly text, even during week leading up to gameday.

5:31 – After players and coaches change into game day gear, the bus starts to pull out of Thatcher to head to the field at Eastern Arizona Community College. The bus crosses over Stadium Ave. and I think that’s where we should probably turn.

I mean it is Stadium Ave.

5:41 – Arrive at John Mickelson Stadium, on Stadium Ave. from a different direction, and buses unload. The players grab their shoulder pads, and helmets from under the bus. Walk through the fence and onto the turf and everyone notices the different feel almost immediately.

My immediate take – easier on the knees, but harder on the ankles.

5:48 – One of Ben Franklin top offensive players is heard saying “I can’t cut on this stuff.” Norris and I both hear it. We both agree as teachers/parents/coaches that we hate the word “can’t.”

5:50 – Meet up with Gila Valley radio legend Lee Patterson, lets me know that the turf is the same one Rice University uses and it is relatively new in the turf world.

He is always good for a nugget or two of information. (As an English teacher this in known as foreshadowing)

6:04 – The Twins takes center stage again as Norris and Jones meet up with each other. Patterson is part of the mix as well. The main conversation is about Jones’ son Ryan, a freshman, is named starting linebacker at Concordia University in Minnesota.

I have a one-on-one conversation with Jones over many topics. One thing that stuck out was that the Thatcher jerseys used to say Eagles across the chest. When he took over, he changed it to Thatcher.

"There are thousands of eagles, but only one Thatcher," he said.

I noticed later that on the back of the jersey there is large T where the name goes on college and pro jerseys. 

6:18 -6:20 – Benjamin Franklin has a tradition of players giving a chain link necklace to a coach of their choice for whatever of many reasons. They start giving them to those coaches before the pregame workouts. The coaches wear them during the game.

6:21 – Teams separate and go into their pregame routines. One thing I always like to check out during this time is how each coach approaches trying to watch the other team run plays.

Some try to be sly or watch from an angle while talking to someone else.

Jones? He just stood right there in the middle on their side of the field and watched every single thing Ben Franklin did.

Didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Just took it all in.

Jones is a lot like his high school coach Paul Moro, but yet has his own coaching style.

Norris was more off to the side and watched with other coaches while talking about this and that as game time approached.

6:35 – Each team takes their break in the corner end zones. Have their positional meetings and get ready for kickoff.

6:37 - I sneak in a salam and pepperoni sandwich with Stadium Mustard (a Cleveland staple), Pepsi and Pringles salt and vinegar potato crisps. 

6:46 – Norris gives his players his last bit of motivation – Say it. Believe it. Do it.

6:51 – Ben Franklin takes the field with their sledge hammer and American flag.

6:53 – Captains meet. Chargers win toss. They receive the opening kick.

6:58 – The ball is in the air to start the highly-anticipated 3A game between a traditional power in Thatcher and a program looking to take that next step after finishing as runner-up a year ago.

7:06 – Trent Dutkiewicz breaks a tackle for a first down that brings oohs and ahhhhs from the Ben Franklin bench.

7:08 - The Ben Franklin coaching staff is having issues with the group wearing black and white stripes. Game tempo is hard to come by in the early going.

7:13 – Ben Franklin takes a 3-0 lead with a 42-yard field goal by Blake Stineman, who is becoming a bit of revelation with his kickoffs being touchbacks including a few that have done through the goal posts.

7:18 – Thatcher has a short punt after a high snap and shank.

7:24 – Chargers take advantage of the short field as quarterback Gavin Wyler throws his first of four TDs, this one of Christian Sorenson, who missed last week with an injury.

7:28 – The Charger defense ends the Thatcher drive with great stop on Eagles running back Tufden Taylor when Tillman Grant and Jacob Bates converge to force another punt.

7:37 – Sorenson beats one-on-one coverage, has ball in hands in the end zone, but defensive back dislodges the ball.

7:39 – On the very next play Sorenson gets loose on the right side of the defense and Wyler finds him for another score. 17-0 Chargers. The sidelines and offense start seeing that Thatcher doesn’t have an answer.

7:42 – Senior Kellin Coombs intercepts a Thatcher pass. Setting up the offense with another short field.

7:48 - This is about the time I start wondering how I can hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and out the next day (27 miles in August) without any physical issues but covering a high school football game kills my back before haltime.

7:51 – The Ben Franklin offense hasn’t been stopped as Wyler lofts a pass to Dutkiewicz who bobbles, but hauls in the score for a 24-0 lead.

8:04 – Halftime.

Ben Franklin goes to north end zone. Thatcher goes to the hill on the outside of the fence that surrounds the field.

8:24 – Second half begins with Thatcher needing something positive to happen. Rip off three straight first downs.

8:31 – Thatcher stalls at Ben Franklin’s 36 and go for it on fourth-and-16 from the 36. Pass falls incomplete.

8:53 – Fourth quarter starts after no scores.

9:00 – After a sustained drive, including Wyler rolling out and hitting Sorenson on a fourth down conversion, Michael Kimball catches the ball in the left flat, turns up field and runs through some tackles for a touchdown and a 31-0 lead.

9:01 – My mind starts thinking I need to start doing some research and figure out the last time Thatcher was shutout at home. Instead I message Patterson. Of course, he knows.

The last time Thatcher went scoreless in a home loss was in 2008 at the hands of Benson – 32-0.

Thank you, sir.

9:14 – Benjamin Franklin puts the offense in run mode and Aaron Dwiggins breaks loose for a 18-yard score, a drive after leaving because of a cramp on the previous drive.

It’s now 38-0. A score no one expected. Running clock.

The only question remaining is can the defense preserve the shutout.

9:28 – The answer is yes. The defense did its part to finish off the complete drubbing of Thatcher. Norris admits later this victory probably ranks No. 2 in his favorite regular season wins behind only his first career win when he was at North Pointe.

9:31 – Players go through handshake line respectively despite some online shennigans throughout the week. Ben Franklin players head to north end zone and then find their way to the fans section in the stands, which only sit on home side.

Jones and Norris are at the center of the field - I wouldn't be surprised if someone asked Who is on first? because they were back to lauging and sharing respect.

9:38 – The team comes back together in the end zone. After several coaches talk, Sather relays to the players that this is the first time Thatcher has been shutout at home since 2008 – when their head coach was a senior in high school at Sandra Day O’Connor.

The players erupt.

9:40 – Norris addresses the team – talks to them about how it was a full 48 mintues of team football, and how proud of the effort. He reminds them of the long weekend and that he loves them.

9:45 – The player make their way to the through the fence they entered about four hours early to meet a strong contingent of fans considering the trek to get here.

9:55 – Most of the players have found their way to the bus area where waiting for them are two burro options – bean and green chille - cookies, brownies with beverage choices of water, Gatorade and chocolate protein shakes.

10 – The mingling has stopped. Some players and coaches stayed in Thatcher for the long weekend. Others made the drive west with their parents. The rest filtered on the two busses.

10:07 – Norris settles in his seat, fully satisfied and starts scrolling on his phone for football scores. Before the bus pulls out of Eastern Arizona, he engages with Alan and asked him if he drove the team to last year’s state championship game. Alan did not.

Norris didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. There’s an understanding with this team. This might be the longest road trip of the year, but it isn’t the most important.

That will happen sometime in early December. Norris is making the point that Alan should clear his schedule.

The Chargers are pointed in only one direction after this victory.

10:09 – The bus starts to pull out of the parking lot. Alan warns of bumps coming. All goes quiet.

12:54 a.m. – The two buses, and mini van pull into the Benjamin Franklin parking lot. Norris warns don’t be the first one to leave.

There’s work that still needs to be done.

Send comments and story ideas to jskoda@azpreps365.com. Follow Skoda on X and Instagram at AzPreps365Skoda for additional stories, insights, opinions and in-game coverage.

 

Here is the full coverage from the the road trip on X