Marina Williams is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com.

 

Anyone with a younger sibling knows how tough it can be to get along. Countless petty arguments, late-night homework sessions and fighting over which seat they want in the car on the way to school. 

Now, what would you do if your younger sibling played every sport you did? Better yet, on the same team? 

For Marty and Gunner Brewer, this is the reality. What started as soccer when they were younger quickly turned into football, and the duo has now found its place on the Desert Ridge High School Varsity football team. 

“I’ve always looked up to him, I just wanted to do whatever he did," Gunner said. 

Marty, a senior, and Gunner, sophomore, have been playing sports together for as long as they can remember. This season was Gunner’s first on varsity, and Marty’s third. After playing as a freshman quarterback last season, Gunner had his work cut out for him, according to Athletic Director Kevin Swann. Swann said having his two-time all-conference cornerback brother there with him might have been one of his keys to success.

“Gunner was in a really interesting position going into this season, I’m sure it’s helpful for him to have his brother out there to kind of calm his nerves,” Swann said. “Moving up to varsity and having his older brother there, having him at team meetings and team dinners was probably super awesome for him.” 

Gunner was slated as a backup quarterback on the Jaguar roster this season, and Marty found himself comfortable as a cornerback during his three years on varsity. It wasn’t until Marty went down for a couple weeks with a mid-season knee injury that Gunner was thrown to the defensive side of the ball. 

In the tilt against Mesa High, two weeks after swapping sides, Gunner grabbed a 30-yard interception resulting in a Desert Ridge scoring drive. 

“He got thrown into the fire and he did really great,” Marty said. 

The duo has been coached by the same man since they were 8, Sammy Johns. After playing flag football with his son for a couple years, Johns ended up being the defensive back coach at Desert Ridge. 

“Gunner was honestly just standing back there, and we knew we needed him over here,” Johns said. “He’s a really smart kid and he catches on quick. Honestly, the future looks really bright for him.” 

Marty, after finishing his senior season, is now looking ahead into the future. With a few offers under his belt, he is still waiting to figure out exactly where he’ll end up. Through it all, he said his faith is keeping him at ease. 

“I’m still waiting to see exactly what’s going to happen,” he said. “I’d still love to be able to walk on somewhere like Arizona State or NAU. It’s all about what God has in store for me.” 

The Brewer brothers have two very important rituals they do at every game. 

“We pray together right on the sidelines before the national anthem, get our heads straight before the game actually starts,” Marty said. 

“In-N-Out after every game, too,” Gunner said.

Marty comes from a senior class that coaches praised for their ability to step up when needed this year. 

“We’re battle tested, we had one of the most difficult schedules this season,” Head Coach Roy Lopez said. “A lot of thanks to the older guys out there because they keep fighting, keep showing up and keep their heads up when things get tough.” 

Now that the season is over, the pair will be able to relax, focus on school and look into what their next seasons will look like. According to Marty, there has never been a doubt what comes first, from their parents or their head coach. 

“Our parents have always told us school comes first, grades come first,” he said. “[Coach Lopez] always says be a good person, be a good athlete, in that order.” 

The two will be able to look back on this season for the rest of their lives.

“I mean not even just us, the brotherhood we had as a team was so special,” Marty said. “It was the most fun season of my life, and I’ll never forget it.”