Martin rules second half, leads Bengals over Sierra Vista

Bonanza and Sierra Vista held a track meet in the first half of Friday’s Southwest League opener, combining for 361 yards and 41 points.

After that, Bengals junior running back Dasean Martin sprinted away from the pack and the Mountain Lions couldn’t keep up.

Martin rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries, including 158 yards and three scores in the second half, to lead Bonanza to a 41-26 home victory.

After trailing three times, the Bengals (1-1, 1-0 Southwest) went ahead for good with 5:13 left in the first half on Sterling Sprau’s 56-yard pass to Jimmy Garibay.

Then Bonanza passed the baton to Martin, who scored on runs of 3, 6, and 10 yards as the Bengals’ 324-yard ground attack wore down the Lions.

“Dasean is a big, tough back,” Bonanza coach Shawn Dupris said. “We struggled on offense last week and didn’t execute. This week we gained more confidence as the game wore on and Dasean gained confidence. If we continue to be able to run the ball, we can put points on the board.

“We were tired last week in the second half. But tonight we found energy and kept fighting. We made plays in the second half when we needed them,.”

Sierra Vista (0-2, 0-1) rushed for 220 yards, but managed only one second-half score on a 6-yard run by Johnathan Hall midway through the fourth quarter.

The Mountain Lions scored first on a 25-yard fourth-down pass from Kimurey Miles to Dontrell Hall. Bonanza quickly answered on Sprau 40-yard run. He finished with 74 yards and also completed 5-of-11 passes for 101 yards.

Dontrell Hall returned the ensuing kicking 95 yards for a Sierra Vista score, but Martin rushed 6 yards for his first touchdown, then ran for the 2-point conversion to put Bonanza back ahead 14-12.

Also in the first half, Johnathan Hall scored on a 2-yard run for the Mountain Lions. Dontrell Hall finished with 93 yards on 15 carries and Johnathan Hall had 85 on 21 carries.