THATCHER, AZ – The Thatcher Eagles rolled to a 41-12 victory over the Sabino Sabercats on Friday night at Eastern Arizona College, but the night’s most memorable moment came from a special play involving senior Brendan Johnson. Johnson, who has multiple sclerosis and serves as the team’s manager, was given the opportunity to score a touchdown thanks to an agreement between Sabino head coach Ryan McBrayer and Thatcher head coach Dan Jones.
The emotional moment occurred late in the third quarter when Johnson was handed the ball at the 3-yard line and crossed into the end zone, drawing cheers from both sidelines and the crowd. His touchdown extended Thatcher’s lead to 34-6, and it highlighted a night filled with dominant play by the Eagles.
Senior running back Kody Bingham led the charge for Thatcher, scoring four rushing touchdowns and piling up 177 yards on just 10 carries. Bingham got the scoring started early, breaking loose for a 60-yard touchdown run in the first minute of the game. He added a second score later in the first quarter with a 10-yard run, putting Thatcher up 14-0.
In the second quarter, junior quarterback Chad Johnson connected with wide receiver Wyatt Nicholas for a 43-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Eagles’ lead to 21-0. Sabino answered with a touchdown of their own but missed the extra point, leaving the score at 21-6. Bingham added another rushing touchdown to give Thatcher a 28-6 lead at halftime.
In addition to Brendan Johnson’s inspirational touchdown, Thatcher’s defense played a key role, limiting Sabino to just two scores and recording two sacks. Senior linebacker Tristun Brown and junior Ryan Jones each contributed a sack.
In the fourth quarter, Bingham capped off his night with his fourth touchdown, and the Eagles cruised to a 41-12 victory. Chad Johnson finished the game with 6 completions on 8 attempts for 134 yards and one touchdown.
The victory improved Thatcher to 6-1 on the season, while Sabino dropped to 3-4. But the night belonged to Brendan Johnson, whose touchdown became the highlight of a hard-fought game, showing the power of sportsmanship and community.
