Maddex Martin is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Eastmark High School for AZPreps365.com

Coach Jason Lyons secured his first playoff win as Eastmark’s head coach in a 42-14 blowout over Desert Sunrise on November 7. 

With the win, the No. 15 Firebirds moved on to the second round of the AIA 4A state playoffs against No. 2 Snowflake on November 14. Snowflake ended up taking a 35-0 win, beating Eastmark for the second time during the 2025 campaign. 

In its game against Desert Sunrise, Eastmark jumped out to a 21-0 lead off the backs of quarterback Dayne Silver, wide receive Maximo Cano, and running back Zaiden Virani, who all reached the end zone.

Following a 42-yard touchdown pass from Silver to Cano to go up 14-0, Lyons dialed up a surprise onside kick from freshman kicker Isaiah Helmkamp. 

“We knew if we got up two touchdowns, we were going try it,” Lyons said. “Hats off to our special teams group. We practiced that. We saw it in film during the week, so great job by them.”

Following the team meeting after the game, Silver pulled aside all of the seniors to have a conversation with them and take some pictures.

“I love my upperclassmen,” Silver said at the time. “I just wanted to get a photo with them. It could be our last time on this field together, so it’s very surreal for all of us.”

Silver’s final statline was 14 of 20, for 214 yards passing, 3 passing touchdowns, 47 yards rushing, and a rushing touchdown.

Cano tallied two touchdowns on five catches and 76 yards.

While the offense excelled against the Golden Hawks, the defense stepped up just as well. It held Desert Sunrise to 202 total yards.

The Golden Hawks offense was high-flying. It liked to run a lot of no-huddle; their quarterback, Trae Walker, had track-like speed, making their offense dynamic.

But Eastmark was able to stifle them. Senior safety Issac Mellage had his first interception of the season. 

Eastmark went on to finish its season 6-6.