(Tucson, AZ) The Sugar Skulls returned home for only their second home game of the season.
This was a pivotal game early in the season as Tucson needed to get off their three game losing streak. They didn’t want to have the same scenario as last season’s slow start that ultimately cost them a playoff spot.
The Skulls offense is ranked near the top of all categories and have had drives of one, two and three plays to go the length of the field.
The problem is the porous defensive backfield that has many new players who have little or no defensive experience at Indoor Football.
Tucson had lost the last two games on the last play to San Diego and Duke City.
At 11:10, Tucson got on the scoreboard with a nice six yard pass to Arthur Jackson and the offense did what they’ve done all season and scored quickly. Tucson up 7-0.
Northern Arizona on their first possession on offense got into the end zone, although Tucson didn’t make it easy as the Wranglers scored on a fourth and three to even it up at 7-7 at the 5:42 mark in the opening quarter.
Just as advertised, Neal hit a wide open Carrington Thompson in stride up the left side for thirty six yard score. Skulls up 14-7 with 3:04 left in the quarter.
Tucson’s defense which was the focal point of this week in practice stood strong as they turned away the Wranglers on a fourth and four from Northern Arizona eighteen yard line on the final play of the first quarter. It would have been a very long field goal attempt and with the speaker standard that prohibits high kicks.
On the first play from the Wrangler eight yard line, Neal ran a keeper to the left and scored to make it 21-7 Tucson.
Northern Arizona faced another fourth down, this time from the Skulls one yard line. Running back Boom Williams scored on a delayed play action pass and the lead was cut to 21-14 and back within striking distance with 6:25 left in the half.
“One Play” Neal hit Quinton Pedroza on a first and ten on a twenty eight yard touchdown and the Sugar Skulls back out in front by two touchdowns 28–14.
Not to be outdone, the Wranglers had a one play drive then on the very next possession. Quarterback Kaleb Barker had a nifty cutback along the wall and scooted in for the score to once again pull Northern Arizona back within seven points 28-21.
Sugar Skulls were crossed up by an on-side kick which Northern Arizona recovered at their own twelve yard line with still 2:45 left in the second quarter.
The kick recovery proved to be costly as Barker under pressure hit a streaking Randolph for thirty eight yards and pay dirt. Tucson lead was preserved when the extra point was missed and now only up 28-27.
The comeback didn’t seem to phase Neal and company as they calmly scored from eight yards out from Mike Jones. With a minute left Tucson extended the lead back to 35-27.
Lightning struck just prior to the half as defensive lineman Maurice Jackson fell back in coverage and intercepted Barker’s pass at the fifteen yard line and scored.
That play was just what the doctor ordered for the Skulls maligned defense with the score was now 42-27.
Any time left on the clock in the IFL is an opportunity to score and the Wranglers took advantage on the last play of the half as Glen Gibbbon hauled in a twenty five yard pass on a broken play to crawl closer 42-33 as another Northern Arizona point after was wide.
The Wranglers took the first possession of the second half and promptly fumbled which was recovered by defensive back Jovan White giving the ball to Tucson.
The turnover bug struck the Sugar Skulls giving the ball right back to Northern Arizona who turned it into a touchdown with Randolph going over the wall but held onto the ball. Tucson now with a 42-40 only because of the two missed extra points by the Wranglers.
Neal and the offense came back with a seventeen yard fly route to Thomson again but they missed the extra point and the game was back to a one possession game 48-40.
The track meet continued as Northern Arizona in two plays scored on a fifteen yard run by Tucker and now the lead was down to a point 48-47 eighth 3:22 left in the third quarter.
The Wranglers rolled the dice again on an on-side kick but Tucson recovered at the eleven yard line.
Neal on a fourth and five from the six yard line looked into the end zone before tucking the ball and scoring himself and gave Tucson a little breathing room 55-47.
On the kickoff Northern Arizona fumbled and the Skulls recovered on the last play of the quarter.
Tucson made them pay once again with Neal using his wheels to score to extend the lead 62-47.
A Wrangler one play drive with Randolph flipping over the wall but maintained possession for a spectacular TD. Tucson up 62-54 with still a ton of time remaining at 10:47.
Northern Arizona held the Skulls high powered offense but Tucson got a forty three yard field goal to still maintain a two possession lead 65-54 with 6:42 left.
Wranglers now with the clock a concern, scored quickly and converted a two point play to draw within a field goal at 65-62 and 5:19 left on the clock.
The past two games, Tucson was in the same position with a small lead and let both games slip away.
After a big sack on Neal back at the Tucson four yard line, the Sugar Skulls regained their composure and marched down the field with Mike Jones jitterbugged in the end zone from the six yard line. The lead back to ten 72-62 at the 2:13 mark.
Last gasp from the Wranglers saw them drive to the Tucson nineteen yard line with :36 seconds on the game clock.
Needing ten points to tie, Northern Arizona attempted a twenty seven yard field goal but missed to the left.
Skulls ran out the clock to break their losing streak and get their first home win of the year.
Tucson’s defense was much better than their efforts in the previous three games during the losing streak. Coach Dixie Wooten and his staff made big strides during the week tweaking the secondary and got more pressure on the opposing quarterback. They won the turnover battle and forced the Wranglers to give up the ball on downs at a critical point in the contest.
This game also set two scoring records as the 72 points Tucson scored tonight was a franchise record and the 134 overall points scored by both teams also set a new mark.
This makes the Sugar Skulls 2-3 on the season and they have two more home games at the Boneyard in the TCC with Duke City next Saturday April 30th and their other in-state rival and league leader Arizona Rattlers on May 7th.
Tonight’s attendance was 2,535.
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