There has long been a mantra from coaches warning players about the dangers of playing for the name on the back of the jersey.

The implication is it can lead to a selfish approach and a possible unwillingness to play for the greater good of the team.

That changes for the Desert Ridge football team Friday when the Jaguars host Boulder Creek for the school’s 11th annual First Responders Night, which honors all first responders who put their life on the line each and every day for the community.

One the back of the specially designed jerseys are the names of actual first responders from the East Valley who sacrificed themselves for others and lost their lives while doing the selfless acts required of first responders in the military, police force, EMTs, firefighters and paramedics.

“These are the name of people who lost their life in the line of duty, so it means a lot, especially because I have a background within my family,” Desert Ridge senior quarterback Gunner Brewer. “It’s a great night and it’s one of the games we looked forward to every year.”

Brewer was named after a relative – William Bryan Brewer Jr. – who died in action in World War II and has family members who are in law enforcement.

While the evening has evolved over the years to become a signature event, this year it was moved to earlier in the season to correspond with the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers in New York City.

“It will take an already emotional evening and make it even more memorable,” Desert Ridge athletic director Kevin Swann said. “We usually have this game later in the year, but when we realized the (9/11) was a Friday this year, we requested to have a home game with the AIA, and they made it happen for us.”

One of the additions in recent years by the Desert Ridge boosters was to add the rank and last names of East Valley responders who have given their lives in the line of duty.

“I feel like we play harder during these games,” senior linebacker Caleb Liddell said. “The names on the back are people who gave everything, including their lives, for us, and we have a free country because of them, so we play that much harder in honor of them.”

The recognition of the first responders has grown quite a bit since the first year when the then booster club president and policeman John Fitzgerald and freshmen coach and policeman Ken Cost came up with the idea of implementing the growing trend.

Now, the campus and stadium are stuffed with fire trucks, ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, and a helicopter, which at one time dropped off the game ball, puts a spotlight on the Jaguars players as they come onto the field.

The Mesa police and fire color guard are on hand for the National Anthem and of course each group of first responders is recognized throughout the night.

“This is a great event, and it is getting better by the year,” Desert Ridge strength and conditioning coach Bill Wust said. “It means a lot to so many people and it’s hard to believe how many people have lost someone. My uncle, Bill Wurst, lost his life while on duty in New Jersey.

"It’s a great way to honor them and the community hear as really embraced it and made it what it is today.”

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