Ty Detmer has never lost to his ALA rival and he hopes to keep it that way tonight. 
The only shake up: He'll be on the other sideline.

"It's gonna be different," Detmer admits.

"Those seniors were freshman when I got there, it's great class, but when it comes down to it, once the game starts, all that matters is winning."

'Those seniors' Detmer refers to were freshmen when he took the helm as ALA-Queen Creek's head coach in 2021. In his three years, Detmer led the 4A to now 6A Ptariots to three straight trips to the Open division playoff. 

But now things are different.

Due to a big shake up within the American Leadership brass, Detmer is now coaching the team (Gilbert North) that hasn't been able to beat his old team (Queen Creek) since both of their inceptions.

The two schools meet again tonight at Queen Creek at 7. Both are 2-0, both are eager to play eachother in what is one of the state's most unique rivalries.

"It will be a great atmosphere for sure," says Detmer, who admits mixed feelings about facing his old team.

"I love those kids, but I love the kids I'm coaching now."

ALA-Queen Creek head coach Rich Edwards, who started the program and was re-hired last spring, shares the same sentiments as Detmer.

"At the end of the day it’s about the kids," Edwards said. "It's going to be a great atmosphere tonight. These kids know eachother, the students know eachother, but when it comes down to it, what matters is winning. Ty may come off as an easy going guy, it’s his old team, but trust me he wants to win more then you know. He is super competitive.
ALA Queen Creek is 2-0 after wins over Saguaro and Boulder Creek. Gilbert North carries the same record after wins over North High and Gilbert. Both teams are also winning by rotating quarterbacks. Gilbert North with Conner White and Bryson Landon, and ALA-Queen Creek with Crew Dannels and Kade Rollins.

"We've always had great quarteback play here," Edwards says. "Max (Hall) does such a great job with them and so we've come to expect it. Rotating kids is not always ideal but it's working so far."