Jaden Mitchell clinches game late with TD, powers Desert Oasis past Clark

Junior Jaden Mitchell rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries for Desert Oasis at home on Friday, including a 42-yard touchdown rush with 4:36 remaining in the fourth quarter to power the Diamondbacks past Clark.

Desert Oasis’ defense held Clark to 130 yards of total offense with eight sacks, an interception, a blocked punt, and a 16-yard fumble recovery for a score by Desmond Kerusa.

Rejon Osborne opened the scoring with a 12-yard TD carry on an inside handoff late in the first quarter for the Diamondbacks (1-4, 1-1 Southwest League), and teammate Mitch Moniz added a 3-yard TD run untouched up the middle early in the second quarter to make it 14-0.

Clark’s Semaj Taylor fielded a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff, raced to the middle of the field, and then found daylight down the left sideline for a 71-yard return to make it 14-6.

Kerusa’s touchdown came on a fumbled punt attempt by Clark (1-4, 0-2) to give Desert Oasis a 21-6 advantage at the half.

Chargers’ quarterback Isiah Bigby led an 11-play, 73-yard scoring drive, capped by a 14-yard TD pass to Nick Kennard with 10:11 left in the fourth quarter. Bigby hit Bobby Coffman with a 2-point conversion pass in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to 21-14.

After the Chargers forced a punt, the Diamondbacks’ defense forced a turnover on downs on Clark’s 44-yard line with 5:44 left in the game.

Bigby led another drive into scoring territory, but was stripped by Desert Oasis’ Dominic White on the Diamondbacks’ 7-yard line with 2:02 to go to seal the victory.

Jason Sanders provided 72 yards rushing on 12 attempts for Desert Oasis, which got four successful point-after kicks from Angelique Gaeta. Jayden Nersinger had four sacks, Tyler Streicher supplied nine tackles, and Kaleb Ramsey had an interception for the Diamondbacks.