McClinton helps Diamondbacks hold off Sierra Vista

Tyshun McClinton rushed 23 times for 145 yards and a touchdown and sealed the game with an 84-yard interception return for a score Friday to lead host Desert Oasis' football team to a 19-6 win over Sierra Vista.

The Diamondbacks (2-0) broke a 6-6 tie when Brannon Flowers tossed a 46-yard touchdown pass to Austin Cooper with 3:39 left.

Sierra Vista tried to rally late, but McClinton intercepted Oscar Aliaga's pass and raced for the clinching score.

"I saw them run a similar route the play before," McClinton said of his interception. "I knew it was coming, and I just sat back and waited for it."

McClinton's 74-yard touchdown run with 9:19 left in the second quarter opened the scoring.

Sierra Vista (0-2) countered with a 9-yard touchdown run from Daniel Godfrey on the next drive, tying the score at 6-6 late in the second quarter. Godfrey finished with 151 yards on 22 carries. Aliaga completed 12 of 18 passes for 112 yards for the Mountain Lions.

"We wore down toward the end, but our kids really fought," Desert Oasis coach Brad Talich said. "You have to give them credit, they were well prepared for tonight."

Contact Chris Kudialis at 702-383-0283 or ckudialis@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter:@kudialisrj.