"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” —Gustav Mahler

Coach Mike Sheahan read that quote to his boys this week. 

The ashes, for Sheahan, were the previous two state championship seasons. The fire is what Scottsdale Christian wanted to accomplish this year to keep the tradition going. 

On Saturday — after three-peating — that tradition was burning brightly at Mountain Pointe High School, the site of the 2A Conference state championship game. Not known as an 11-man football school before Sheahan arrived, Scottsdale Christian once again proved that Sheahan's boys can ball after defeating St. Johns 27-22. 

But there were moments in the fire of the championship game and this season that tested Scottsdale Christian’s resiliency. The St. Johns Redskins came oh so close from keeping Scottsdale Christian from becoming a dynasty.

They were four yards and 21 seconds away from potentially securing their first title in 17 years. But on fourth down, senior outside linebacker Joseph Kassisieh wrapped up St. Johns' quarterback and slung him to the turf to set off a loud roar from his crowd and team's celebration. 

That tackle, after the quarterback rolled out to his left before  Kassisieh put the kibosh on St. Johns’ 12-2 season, also clinched a 13-1 championship campaign for Scottsdale Christian. Kassisieh’s tackle also kept the game from ending how it started—with St. Johns scoring.

Junior Kaden Waite picked off Scottsdale Christian’s Sean Helgeson and returned it nearly 50 yards for the game’s opening score. On Scottsdale Christian’s second drive, the Redskins cashed in another gift, a turnover during a Helgeson to running back exchange, for points.  

Running back Sam Winters, who had an MVP-type performance with 106 rushing yards and eight tackles, sprinted through the heart of Scottsdale Christian’s defense and into the end zone for a 68-yard touchdown. After a Scottsdale Christian flag, St. Johns converted a two-point play to jump ahead 15-0 just before the first quarter ended.

But this wasn’t Scottsdale Christian’s first gut check of the season. It was “humbled" during its regular season finale defeat to Arizona Lutheran Academy and showed a lot of character during each of its one score playoff victories over San Tan Charter and Willcox. 

On Saturday, it responded like champions do when they are down. Helgeson shook off the poor start, took care of the ball and began to do his part to sustain drives along with his offensive line and the tenacious Everett Salazar. Salazar, a running back, accounted for three touchdowns during a stretch that saw the Eagles score 27 unanswered points from the 10:16 mark of the second quarter until 5:42 remained in the game. 

Sean Helgeson complete 21 of 31 attempts for 238 yards to pick up Offensive MVP and Fiesta Bowl MVP honors. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)Helgeson found a wide open Martin Perez, a tight end, for an 11-yard touchdown during the scoring stretch. The Eagles' final touchdown was set up by a defender, junior Caleb Murphy, with a cast on his right arm who intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter. 

“This is amazing,” said Murphy after the game. "I wouldn’t want to do this with any other group of guys. These are my boys. I love them.”

Caleb Murphy, cast and all, picked up Defensive MVP honors after making one of the biggest plays during the 2A championship game. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps35)Murphy also wound up with a team-high five receptions along with Kyle Olafson (100 receiving yards) and Dom Dickerson. 

St. Johns appeared to stop the Eagles on third down during their final scoring drive, but the Redskins were penalized for roughing the passer, allowing Salazar to score from two yards out on the ensuing play. 

“To be down 15 and then not give up another point until late in the fourth quarter, I’m so proud of these dudes,” Sheahan said. "It’s special. These dudes are special. They don’t know how to lose.” 

And St. Johns never gives up easily. 

It’s a program with a proud tradition, eight championships and only one missed playoff appearance since 1989. The determined Redskins finally got on the board again after Winters somehow caught a pass between two defenders and then spun away from a third to complete a 23-yard scoring play with 4:11 left. 

St. Johns made its 11th state championship appearance Saturday. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)

St. Johns’ defense then forced a three-and-out to set up the final second dramatics that led to Scottsdale Christian ultimately winning its fifth overall title.

"I’m on Cloud 9 right now,” Sheahan said. "No, I did not think we would be here right now (three-peating). After the first (title), I see the crowd. The second one I was like, 'What is going on?’ The third one, I still don’t know how to feel. I’m in that moment where it’s like I think when I wake up (Sunday) I will probably cry in the shower. But I will be super happy.”