Desert Oasis snaps out of funk, edges Bonanza

By Paul Delos Santos

Friday, Nov. 1, 2013 | 11:36 p.m.

With his team trending downward, Desert Oasis coach Scott Staudinger opted to focus on the positives rather than the negatives when it concerned his team’s four-game losing skid.

“We had to keep their confidence,” he said. “They’re doing a lot of things well, but we just weren’t making the plays we needed to.”

Things were different against Bonanza. The Diamondbacks made enough plays and were able to pick up a 42-35 victory over the Bengals in a back-and-forth affair.

Jocquez Kalili had a big game for Desert Oasis (4-4, 1-3 Sunrise Southwest). He rushed for 264 yards on 38 carries with four touchdowns, including the game-winning score with less than 30 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.

He also added a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

While the offense wasn’t quite balanced, Desert Oasis did get a satisfactory effort from its passing game. Quarterback Richie Stammetti threw for 127 yards and a touchdown — a 34-yard TD strike to Shawn Sanchez.

“We got going in the passing game, and it helped opened things up for Jocquez,” Staudinger said. “They know how much easier it is to move the ball and run it a little bit more when you’re passing well.”

Staudinger wasn’t sure on the order of operations that would need to happen for his team to make the postseason. He just knows his team isn’t completely out of it, but the Diamondbacks will need help.

It also doesn’t help that Desert Oasis draws Bishop Gorman in its season finale, making the task a little more difficult.

Staudinger said his team should treat it like a state playoff game.

“That possibly could be our last game of the year,” he said. “Why not try to beat the best team in the state? It might be our state championship game. It might not be that, but we have to put up a fight.”

Bonanza fell to 3-5 and 0-4 in division play.

Paul Delos Santos can be reached at 990-2416 or mail to [email protected]. Follow Paul on Twitter at twitter.com/pauliedelos.