(GRAND ISLAND, NE) A statistic that stood out for the Tucson Sugar Skulls in their first four games was that neither of its two quarterbacks had thrown in interception in 93 pass attempts.
Unfortunately, Game 5 produced a different storyline as the Sugar Skulls threw three interceptions and added a lost fumble in a 53-47 loss to the Nebraska Danger. The loss dropped the Sugar Skulls to 3-2 on the season with a rematch with the first-place and unbeaten Arizona Rattlers looming next Sunday in Tucson.
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Even with the turnovers, and after falling behind by
17 points in the second half, the Sugar Skulls
fought back and had an opportunity to walk away
winners. But a last-chance drive ended with the
third pick of the night on a tipped ball with the Sugar Skulls driving in Nebraska territory with 18 seconds to play. The Danger were able to run out the clock after the pick.
Matt Behrendt got the start at quarterback after sitting out last week’s win over the San Diego Strike Force. But his second pick with 11:08 left in the third quarter and the Sugar Skulls down by 10 led to a Danger score and a 37-20 deficit. That score was the third straight by the Danger after the Sugar Skulls led, 20-16, in the middle of the second quarter. One of the three scores was on the second-half kickoff when Eric Thomas ran it back 50 yards for a touchdown.
Jake Medlock entered the game at quarterback with 8:03 left in the third quarter and kept the Sugar Skulls within striking distance. Mike Jones scored the second of his three TDs with 7:17 left to make it 37-26. After a Kenny James interception, Jones scored again, and the Sugar Skulls were within four at 37-33 with 4:19 left in the third quarter. After a Danger field goal made it 40-33, Jones coughed up a fumble after catching a pass from Medlock, leading to a Danger TD and the Skulls were down by 13.
Medlock scored from a yard out to get the Sugar Skulls within six with 3:16 left to play. The defense stiffened and gave the offense one last chance when Nebraska missed a 29-yard field goal attempt with 44 seconds left in the game. But Medlock’s last pass of the night was deflected and picked off at the Nebraska 15-yard line with 18 seconds left to play and the Danger ran out the clock.
Courtesy of the Sugar Skulls Media Department
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