Heatley, Fortenberry spark offensive explosion in Diamondbacks’ win over Bengals

After watching teammate KamBrenn Heatley return the opening kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown, Desert Oasis fullback Devin Fortenberry had a feeling his team could be in for a special night.

It certainly was for the sophomore.

Fortenberry carried 15 times for 139 yards and five touchdowns to help the Diamondbacks set a school-record for points in a game with a 77-44 home victory over Bonanza on Thursday.

“When KamBrenn returned that, that lit everything up,” Fortenberry said. “That told us that we had hope and we could win this game.”

 

Desert Oasis (3-1, 2-0 Southwest) had more than hope.

By the end of the game, it had gained 473 total yards and scored 11 touchdowns, with even the defense finding a way into the historic night.

Junior defensive back Jossaiah Raval returned an interception 103 yards for a touchdown to give Desert Oasis a 77-41 lead with 5:57 left. Raval’s play is believed to be the second-longest interception return for a touchdown in state history, according to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record book.

The teams combined for 941 total yards. In 28 years of coaching, Faron Seibel said he had never been involved in a game like Thursday’s shootout.

“Seventy-seven points on one side and 44 on the other?” the second-year Desert Oasis coach asked with a smile. “No.”

Fortenberry scored on 50-, 3- and 13-yard runs in the first half and 1- and 16-yard runs in the second.

The Diamondbacks took a 40-20 lead at halftime, but Seibel was concerned about the pace of the game.

“The weirdest part was, you go in at halftime up by 20 and you’re worried about not being far enough ahead because they can just score at will,” Seibel said. “Offensively, they’re powerful, so here you are with a 20-point lead (and) worried.”

Bonanza senior running back Dasean Martin returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to pull the Bengals (0-3, 0-2) within 46-34 with 6:09 left in the third quarter, but the Bengals got no closer.

Desert Oasis quarterback Trevon Barnes rushed for 93 yards and two TDs on six carries while adding 66 passing yards. Heatley’s 11 carries yielded 69 yards and a TD for the Diamondbacks, who rolled up 407 rushing yards.

“When you’re with you and your teammates, you do what you do in practice every day and you come out and put it on the field,” Fortenberry said of the offensive explosion.

Martin caught eight passes for 123 yards and three TDs and added 70 yards rushing for Bonanza, which amassed 468 total yards.

Bengals senior quarterback Sterling Sprau completed 23 of 35 passes for 318 yards and five TDs with two interceptions. He hooked up with Loren Studer (six catches, 116 yards) on scoring strikes of 24 and 39 yards in the first half.

But Bonanza could not overcome four turnovers. The Bengals have allowed 199 points in three games, including 151 in six days.

Desert Oasis, meanwhile, appears to be in contention for a spot in the Sunset Region playoffs after making its first appearance in the school’s three-year history last season.

“We need to keep it going,” Fortenberry said. “If we keep it going, we can be in the playoffs. We did real well as a unit, and we’re going to continue getting better.”