Taylor guides Bengals past Durango

Bonanza (2-0) clung to a 16-14 lead before Taylor scrambled for a 17-yard TD to put the Bengals in control with 9:59 left in the fourth quarter.

Durango’s Daniel Medina intercepted a pass from Bonanza quarterback Tyler Penkalski on the Bengals’ 14-yard line with 4:40 left to play to keep the Trailblazers alive. But after Durango (0-1) earned a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, Bonanza’s Jager Merrell pounced on a fumble to end the threat. Bonanza then ran out the clock, capitalizing on a 52-yard run by Carlos Soto.

Taylor opened the scoring by fielding a punt, eluding several tacklers and racing down the left sideline for a 61-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Penkalski then capped a 62-yard scoring drive with a 9-yard strike to Scott Dore to make it 13-0.

Patrick Outhoummountry connected for a 42-yard field goal to cap a drive highlighted by a 39-yard pass from Penkalski to DeAndre Garcia just before the half for Bonanza.

Josh Johnson scored on a 2-yard run late in the first half and a 3-yard plunge to cap a 71-yard drive, keyed by a 31-yard pass from Ben Hayden to Casey Smith, at the end of the third quarter for Durango.

Penkalski finished with 104 yards passing, and Soto supplied 110 yards rushing on 15 carries for Bonanza.

Hayden was 7-for-14 for 139 yards, with 83 yards going to Smith.