A senior quarterback at Desert Ridge High School says he was removed from the team after calling an audible on the final play of a close victory, and 12 teammates were later suspended for the remainder of the season after voicing support for him.
Gunner Brewer, a senior at the Mesa school, told local media that the incident occurred on the last play of Desert Ridge’s 14-12 win at Vail Cienega on Oct. 2. The called play was designed for him, but Brewer said he changed it at the line and handed the ball to his running back, who scored the touchdown that helped seal the game.
“Basically called the play, trusted my running back behind me who scored a touchdown, definitely was rolling with him,” Brewer said. “The play was originally called for me, but I definitely wanted him to run the ball and get us the first down to basically seal the game.”
Brewer said he had been permitted to call audibles under the team’s previous offensive coordinator, who was dismissed at the end of September. After the game, head coach Miles Smith spoke with him and, according to Brewer, told him he had disrespected the coaching staff before cutting him from the team. Brewer was formally removed around Oct. 5.
The following Monday, Brewer said roughly a dozen teammates told coaches they disagreed with the decision. Accounts from parents and reporting indicate that during a team meeting, players raised their hands when asked who wanted Brewer back; after an assistant indicated those who disagreed could leave, about 12 players walked out. Those players—including five seniors—were subsequently suspended for the rest of the season. Underclassmen among them have been told they may return for offseason activities.
“They definitely had my back, and I have theirs 100 percent,” Brewer said. “When they did that, I stood right by them.”
Desert Ridge, now coached by first-year head coach Miles Smith (son of former NFL coach Lovie Smith, who is assisting the staff), has struggled since the dismissals and suspensions. The team lost 49-7 to Mesa Red Mountain and was shut out 50-0 by Tempe Corona del Sol. The program finished 0-10 last season; this year’s record stood at 2-5 or 2-6 depending on the exact timing of reports. Brewer had been productive before his removal, completing 101 of 203 passes for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns with eight interceptions, while adding 359 rushing yards and six scores in six games.
School officials, including athletic director Kevin Swann, have not publicly detailed the full rationale for the decisions. Reporting has noted limited responses to media inquiries, and media access to a subsequent game was restricted. Brewer has said Smith has primarily communicated through his mother since the dismissal and that he was told to stay away from the field house and players. He has still attended games to support remaining teammates and has described the outcome as disappointing for his senior season while expressing faith in future plans.
The episode has drawn significant local and national attention, highlighting tensions over on-field decision-making, player input, and coaching authority in high school athletics. As of mid-October, the school had not issued a detailed public statement clarifying the full sequence of events or any additional context regarding prior disciplinary matters.
