(Courtesy Millennium Tiger Quarterback Club on Facebook)
Millennium junior Kadin Johnson jets downfield during a Sept. 19, 2025 home game against Apollo. Johnson recently verbally committed to Idaho State University and is back for his senior season.
Millennium football watched local rivals Desert Edge and Canyon View get to the 5A Conference title game in each of the last three seasons and the Tigers want in.
With an unusual amount of transfers arriving to join a homegrown senior class of 40, the Tigers may have the roster to compete at the highest level. The 2005 Millennium team is the only one in program history to make a state semifinal.
Coach Lamar Early, his staff and senior leaders have been quick to remind the team that while their potential is high, this group has not actually accomplished much. As freshmen, they watched the Tigers’ last playoff win in 2023 and finished 7-4 with a deflating playoff loss in the first round.
“I believe we have one of the toughest conferences in the Valley, with Canyon View playing for the state title last year and Desert Edge playing for it a couple of years ago. They’re loaded, both teams. We want a taste of what they’ve got, but we also know that details matter,” Early said. “I know it sounds cliche but our goal every day is to be the best we can be and better than yesterday.”
Seniors have learned they need to take things a bit more seriously but can still have fun, he said.
Being outscored 15-0 by Yuma Catholic in the second half of last year’s playoff opener at home fueled the Class of 2027.
“From freshman year to senior year has been a big roller coaster. All the ups and downs we’ve been through and the adversity we’ve had to face has meant getting better as a team and being successful. We’re looking forward to a good season,” senior wide receiver Kadin Johnson said.
Johnson is one of three senior offensive centerpieces to verbally commit to NCAA Division 1 programs this offseason, which is more uncharted territory for this program. Star running back D’Mari Bryant committed to Idaho.
Lauifi Tosi flipped his verbal commitment from North Carolina to Stanford in early July. Johnson verbally committed to Idaho State.
“It’s made it easy. Now I know I’ve got a future in football. And after football, I’m going to Stanford, which is a great school,” Tosi said.
All three are foundation blocks. Bryant is probably the strongest pillar.
He finished last season with 2,042 yards and 30 touchdowns on 221 carries. And the big year did not cause his work ethic to slack.
“Him and Beef (Tosi) I always call my silent leaders. They don’t talk a lot. But they get in the weight room, they’re in the classroom and involved off campus. They’re leading by example and those are the guys you want to not only be your best players but your leaders,” Early said.
Senior cornerback/receiver/kickoff returner Kiaun Davidson is also a quiet, steady leadership presence, Early said.
Offensively, Davison will complement fellow seniors Johnson — the leader in receiving yards with 660 — and Kasaun Rouzan-Frankin, who had a team high 43 catches.
The biggest question is who gets to throw to them.
Junior Cason Lanzarotto, senior Adrian Gonzales and junior Myron Lee are battling for the starting quarterback role. There is little separation between them to start August, Early said.
Right now the coach said Lee is third simply because he and the other Cactus transfers are in limbo until the AIA decides whether they sit out five games.
Juniors Daylen Moore, Jericho Peralta, Lee and Elijah Coleman lead the Cactus transfers.
Junior middle linebacker Ar-Razzaq Animashaun arrived from Buckeye Youngker along with junior defensive tackle Alfred Pyne and sophomore defensive back Dontae Scott Jr.
“The kids that came in, all of them are great kids. They came in, worked and picked up things. We haven’t missed a beat,” Early said. “They’re ready to compete and I love it.”
Another recent arrival from further away, interior offensive lineman Julian Adame, arrives from Tempe High for his junior year in a spot of need.
The offensive line will have more new starters than any other position group, as newcomers fill the interior roles between bookend tackles Tosi and Kevin Munane. Tosi said junior guard Jordan Garcia impressed him in the offseason.
“The offensive line is coming together. If I knew that they all would be playing right off the bat we wouldn’t have a problem. It’s probably going to be one of my biggest offensive lines ever once they all get on the field,” Early said.
Players like Moore at defensive back and Peralta and Animashaun will bolster a defense led by returners with something to prove.
Last year the Tigers allowed an average of 29 points per game, and gave up 28 points or more in all four losses.
Smaller, quicker senior defensive ends Angelo Ortiz and Ayden De Leon tied for the team lead in sacks with five.
“Angelo has beaten me a lot. He’s fast. He’s good,” Tosi said. “He’s gotten stronger over the years.”
Junior cornerback/safety Rowlen Greer is ready for a bigger role alongside Davison and Moore after running a 10.82 in the 100 meters as a sophomore.
Tosi said this team talked about winning a championship.
Millennium’s 2026 slogan puts the concept of not leaving the field with any questions about effort in more stark term — DDW (Don’t Die Wondering).
“We’ve got to play everybody the same way, no matter who they are or how much success they’ve had,” Johnson said. “We need to play with straight aggression.”
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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