Big Three: Trio leads Bonanza past Durango

It took a quarter for Bonanza’s offense to find the right gear on Homecoming against Durango Friday night.

However, once the Bengals got rolling, the Trailblazers couldn’t stop them.

After gaining just 51 yards in the opening period, Bonanza moved in the right direction and pounded Durango, 34-6, for the Bengals fifth straight win.

The Bengals (5-2, 4-0), who share the top spot in the Southwest Division with Bishop Gorman, used their top three weapons — Sterling Sprau, Aaron Simon and Antonio Beals — to get things rolling.

Sprau threw three touchdown passes, two to Simon, and ran for another. Beals gained 201 yards on 37 carries and scored once as the Bengals gained 389 yards after the opening period.

Sprau hit Simon on touchdown passes of 60 and 18 yards, as the Bengals enjoyed a 13-0 lead at halftime. In the second period alone, Bonanza outgained Durango, 176-75.

“When we are moving the ball and taking time off the clock, good things happen for us,” Bonanza head coach Shawn Dupris said. “We did a great job of moving the ball in the second quarter to take over the game.”

Bonanza’s defense was just as impressive, holding Durango to just 191 total yards and forcing four turnovers.

Perhaps the only negative for the Bengals was too many yellow flags; Bonanza was whistled 20 times for 197 yards.

“We teach our kids to be aggressive, and that’s how it goes sometimes,” Dupris said. “The main things is that both sides of the ball played well tonight and overall I’m pleased with the effort.”

Durango (1-6, 1-3), which has been outscored 252-56 in its six losses, got on the board with 8:57 remaining on Julio Mora’s 65-yard run.