Head coach: Daniel Jones, seventh season
Classification: 3A East
2025 record: 9-2, lost to Florence in the first round
Returning starters: Four on offense, four on defense
Strength: Offensive line
Biggest question: Replacing nearly all of last season’s backfield production
Thatcher’s offense will have a new leader in 2026.
Senior Tufden Taylor has emerged as the Eagles’ likely starting quarterback after spending last season in a limited reserve role behind Chad Johnson.
Taylor appeared in six games as a junior, completing 3 of 4 passes for 22 yards. He also rushed four times for 39 yards and a touchdown, including a 43-yard scoring run against Apache Junction.
It was a small varsity sample, but enough to give Taylor some experience before taking over an offense that will look much different this fall.
Thatcher returns only four starters on offense and must replace players responsible for nearly all of last season’s production.
The Eagles rushed for 2,125 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2025. Players returning this season accounted for just 177 of those yards, or a little more than eight percent of the team total.
Johnson threw for 1,189 of Thatcher’s 1,211 passing yards and also rushed for 354 yards and 10 touchdowns. Ryan Jones, Jackson Bryce and Smith Mangum combined for another 1,263 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
All four graduated.
That leaves Taylor and a collection of relatively inexperienced backs preparing to take on much larger roles.
“Expectations never change at Thatcher,” head coach Daniel Jones said. “The outlook is solid. Good group of kids just ready to get their shot.”
Taylor should benefit from playing behind the position group Jones expects to be the strength of the team.
The Eagles return experience along the offensive line, led by seniors Brock Innes and Vincent Bejarano.
Innes earned first-team all-region recognition last season and received honorable mention all-state honors. He is expected to remain a major two-way contributor on the offensive and defensive lines.
Bejarano also returns in the trenches after receiving honorable mention all-region honors as a defensive lineman.
“The O-line brings back good reps and has been working hard this offseason,” Jones said.
Kaesen Estes, Grady Lehmann and Josh Nicholas are among the newer players expected to compete for time on the offensive and defensive lines.
That group will be responsible for protecting Taylor while Thatcher rebuilds the rest of its backfield.
Senior Josh Jones returns at running back and defensive back. He saw limited offensive opportunities last season, rushing four times for 26 yards and catching four passes for 28 yards. Jones also contributed in the return game and finished with 229 all-purpose yards.
Junior Ryker Romero brings the most returning production among Thatcher’s running backs. Romero rushed for 96 yards on nine carries last season, caught six passes for 42 yards and added 105 yards on punt returns.
Junior Jax Shupe is another candidate for carries and is also expected to play linebacker.
Ethan Hayes is expected to receive opportunities in the backfield as well. Hayes carried the ball only once last season, gaining 16 yards, but his primary role will come in the middle of Thatcher’s defense.
Hayes is set to step in at middle linebacker after recording 21 tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks during his junior season. His varsity experience gives Thatcher an important building block in a linebacking unit that will feature several players taking on new responsibilities.
Kase Palmer, who took a handful of quarterback snaps last season, is expected to provide depth behind Taylor while taking on a larger role at linebacker.
Although Thatcher has little returning production in the backfield, Taylor will have experienced targets available.
Senior Hudson Conrad is the Eagles’ leading returning receiver after catching 15 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown last season. Conrad earned second-team all-region honors and will also play defensive back.
Senior Teagen Damron returns at tight end and defensive end. Damron caught one pass for 12 yards last season but could become a larger part of the offense as both a receiver and blocker.
Ryzer Jaquez is among the new players expected to contribute at wide receiver and defensive end.
Taylor also displayed some versatility last season. In addition to his limited work at quarterback, he recorded 30 yards on kickoff returns and 48 yards on punt returns, finishing with 117 all-purpose yards.
Now he must make the jump from occasional contributor to directing the offense.
Thatcher will not change its system to accommodate the transition.
Russell Jones returns as offensive coordinator, and Ethan Estes will continue coaching the offensive line. Daniel Jones said the Eagles are sticking with the approach that has long defined the program.
“Same, same, same,” Jones said. “Tradition.”
The Eagles’ new starters will not have much time to settle in.
Thatcher opens August 20th at American Leadership Academy–Ironwood before hosting Apache Junction on August 28th at Eastern Arizona College.
Benjamin Franklin visits September 4th followed six days later by Florence in Thatcher’s first 3A East game.
The Florence matchup will carry some added weight after last season’s disappointing finish.
Thatcher defeated the Gophers 21-18 during the regular season, but Florence won the rematch in the opening round of the playoffs. The loss ended the Eagles’ season at 9-2 and left a bad taste with those returning.
After an open week, Thatcher travels to Pusch Ridge on September 25th.
Jones identified the opener and the stretch against Benjamin Franklin, Florence and Pusch Ridge as the most important portion of the schedule. Four of Thatcher’s first five games will come against teams capable of testing an inexperienced lineup.
“So many new faces in big roles,” Jones said. “Can we grow early enough to handle our tough parts of the schedule?”
The senior class responsible for leading that growth is small but close.
“The senior class is small but very tight,” Jones said. “They have been pushing each other. Excited about the possible result.”
Thatcher returns experience along the line and proven players in Conrad, Damron, Innes, Bejarano and Josh Jones.
The uncertainty is behind them, where Taylor and the rest of the new backfield must replace nearly all of the production from one of the state’s more balanced offenses.
“Tons of new faces, but ready to take their turn defending the T,” Jones said. “Very hard-working crew with passion. Should be a great football season.”
Taylor has thrown only four varsity passes, but he will enter 2026 as the likely quarterback for a program that does not lower its expectations during a rebuilding year.
At Thatcher, they do not call it rebuilding anyway.
They call it taking your turn.
