(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls fought hard enough to be in position to win the game as time expired, but in the end fell short, losing to the Northern Arizona Wranglers by a score of 48-44.
The Sugar Skulls will host the 5-1 Arizona Rattlers on Saturday, July 3 at 6:05 p.m. MST.
Game Flow
It was a back-and-forth affair all evening as both teams found the end zone early. The defenses definitely had the advantage as well, because no one found the score sheet the rest of the first quarter. All that changed in the second quarter, though, as the two teams combined for five scores. Tucson went to the locker room at halftime sporting a 27-21 lead.
Sugar Skulls starting quarterback, Demry Croft, experienced a rough start to the second half, though. QB1 threw his only interception of the game and unfortunately it was of the pick-6 variety. To make matters worse, it was Wrangler Justin Wyatt, who spent training camp with the Sugar Skulls, that took the interception in for the score. The Wranglers and Sugar Skulls were neck and neck the whole game, and the final nail in the coffin came on a 1-yard Verlon Reed Jr. rushing touchdown with 30 seconds remaining. The Sugar Skulls would respond, as they drove the length of the field before failing to find the end zone on the final play of regulation.
Passing Prowess
Quarterback Demry Croft put up his first 200 yard plus passing game (211 YDS) of the season and threw for five touchdowns through the air against the Wranglers defense. Croft led the team in both passing and rushing yards (48 YDS) again, helping the Sugar Skulls amass their second-highest scoring game of the season.
Just one week after wide receiver Ryan Balentine broke the all-time IFL receiving yard record, Balentine added another dazzling performance to his resume. Balentine caught six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns against the Wranglers. Malik Stanley also added two receiving touchdowns to round out his best performance of the season.
Tough Sledding
The Sugar Skulls defense kept the opposing quarterback Verlon Reed Jr. locked down through the air as they only allowed two receiving touchdowns. But Reed Jr. caused havoc on the ground. Finishing the game with 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns with the legs. Defensive lineman Chris Martin did record his first sack of the season against the Wranglers, though, but the Sugar Skulls defense was unable to force a turnover for the third straight game.
Revenge Against the Rattlers
The Sugar Skulls look to end their current losing streak (4) against the 5-1 Arizona Rattlers. The Rattlers defeated the Sugar Skulls earlier in the season in a 44-34 road thriller. Quarterback Drew Powell leads the IFL in both rushing yards (431 YDS) and rushing touchdowns (15), as he looks to continue his impressive season in the Boneyard.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – Steve Cusumano
