Chaos has erupted at Desert Ridge football. Twelve players, including five seniors, are now suspended for the rest of the season after they walked out of a meeting last week. Why? They were backing their now-dismissed quarterback, Gunner Brewer. This all blew up after Brewer was removed from the team on October 5, but the drama is far from over.
An Audible That Cost a Season
Brewer, the team’s starting quarterback up until his dismissal, made it clear he never saw this coming. He spoke with media outside the stadium on October 15, even though Desert Ridge athletic director Kevin Swann tried to block coverage and a Gilbert Public Schools spokesperson said no video was allowed on school property. According to Brewer and his mom, Marie, the dismissal all stemmed from one play he changed on his own during a 14-12 win at Vail Cienega earlier in the season. Brewer said he never got told changing a play was bad, never had a one-on-one meeting about it. He just wanted his running back to get the first down to seal the game. He says it worked. “I never expected it,” Brewer told reporters. “Basically, all that happened, I’m disappointed because I wanted to finish my senior year.” He even came off the field “with a lot of high hopes” after that play. Now, his senior year is over.
Teammates Walk Out, Get Suspended
The fallout from Brewer’s dismissal is huge. Two days after he was removed, a player-led meeting happened, asking for Brewer’s return. About twelve players raised their hands when asked if they wanted Brewer back. A parent who was there said a coach then told them if they didn’t like the decision, they could leave. So they did. Those twelve players, five of whom are seniors, are now suspended for the rest of the season. Only underclassmen can return in the offseason. Brewer was definitely feeling the love from his squad. “Definitely made me happy, because we went through everything together,” he said. “They definitely had my back. And I have theirs 100 percent. When they did that, I stood right by them. I want to give them a shout out, because they made a decision and stuck with it.” Desert Ridge athletic director Kevin Swann sent a letter to parents confirming players wanted Brewer back, but also stated that coaches and players had said head coach Miles Smith hadn’t treated anyone disrespectfully. Swann and head coach Miles Smith have not returned messages regarding Brewer’s dismissal or the walkout.
Even after all that, Brewer showed up to support his brothers on October 15 against Tempe Corona del Sol, just watching from the stands after being there for last week’s 49-7 loss. “I’ve been here for four years,” Brewer said, reflecting on his time where he played QB and safety on last year’s 0-10 team and gone through three coaches. “My brother went through here. I love the community. The community’s got my back. I can’t give up on my brothers. I want to support my brothers.” Miles Smith was hired last December. Now the team, missing twelve players, has to finish out the season without some key seniors, all because of an audible. What a mess.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply