Myles Aaron Dunson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Verrado High School for AZPreps365.com

GOODYEAR – The Verrado Vipers' four-game win streak came to an end Friday night after their region rival, the Millennium Tigers, squashed any hopes of a comeback with a 28-point second half, leading to a 45-38 victory.

The Tigers did it all after halftime as they threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns by junior running back Dmari Bryant. 

“It feels great knowing that I have a line to make holes throughout the game,” Bryant said. “And we also have passing to open up the run, so it makes it a lot easier.” 

The game began with both teams exchanging blows early on. The Vipers struck first, with senior quarterback Malachi Wilt throwing a 78-yard bomb to senior wide receiver Wyatt Locke, putting them up 7-0 with 10:26 left in the first quarter. 

Millennium fought back by scoring 17 unanswered points, putting them out front 17-7. 

The Tigers’ point barrage included a field goal, a 1-yard quarterback sneak by senior Rayden Reibel, and a 34-yard TD reception by junior wide receiver Kadin Johnson with 9:15 left in the second quarter. 

The Vipers followed this by making a 12-yard field goal and a 7-yard TD reception by junior wide receiver Eli Mock, which made the score 17-17 at halftime.

 

After the break, both teams came out with a new and improved game plan.  

“Everybody is going to be focused on [Bryant],” Millennium coach Lamar Early said, “So we told our boys, ‘ Hey, you’re gonna get a chance to make plays.’ And every guy stepped up, whether it was a first down, touchdown, or just a big play tonight.” 

Even with the Vipers focused on Bryant, they could not stop his 21-yard touchdown run that kicked off the scoring in the second half with 10:22 left in the third quarter, which put the Tigers up 24-17. 

The Vipers followed Millennium’s lead as senior running back Immanuel Perry ran in a 1-yard touchdown to tie the score at 24 with 8:49 left in the third quarter. 

As the third quarter bled into the fourth, the Tigers bolstered their lead with a pair of touchdown receptions by senior wide receiver Isaiah Rodriguez, one for 40 yards and the other for 18. This put the Tigers up 38-24 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. 

Verrado did not stop fighting as they marched down the field with a 54-yard TD drive that ended with a 2-yard reception from junior wide receiver Carter Bliss, making the score 38-31 with 9:04 left in the game. 

The Tigers did not rest with their seven-point advantage as Bryant found the end zone for the second time, earning Millennium’s final touchdown of the night, putting them up 45-31 with 6:09 left. 

Down two TDs with 4:24 left in the game, the Vipers showed their tenacity as Wilt found Locke for a 10-yard TD reception, making it a one-score game at 45-38. 

However, Verrado’s offense did not see the field again as Bryant gained three first downs, and the Tigers got into victory formation to run out the clock. 

“Yeah, we have got a lot of character,” Verrado coach Brett Davis said. “We have a lot of fight. Now it’s just cleaning up the little mistakes. It’s a cliche: ‘It’s a game of inches.’ Well, it literally was tonight.  

Verrado (4-2,0-1 ) will play at Desert Edge (6-0, 1-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.   

Millennium (5-1, 1-0) will play at Tolleson (6-0, 1-0) next Thursday at 7 p.m.