(Tucson, AZ) The Sugar Skulls came home for their opener after the first three weeks on the road to start the 2023 season.
Tucson, couldn’t have been in better position to have their first game in the Boneyard than to be on top of the standings in the Western Conference at 3-0.
Their opponent today, the San Diego Strike Force who they faced in the first game on their slate and won 35-16. The defense really stood out in that game.
Next up was their in-state rival the Arizona Rattlers who were without their MVP quarterback Drew Powell. Tucson won 54-48 for the first time in Phoenix to go 2-0.
Last week, they traveled to Northern California to face former coach Dixie Wooten and his Bay Area Panthers, winning 34-30.
Tucson came out fast and scored on three plays thanks to a nineteen yard touchdown pass from Ramone Atkins to Dylan Pearson and a 7-0 lead at the 12:09 mark.
San Diego came back on their first possession drove down to the Skulls ten yard line before the defense stiffened. The Strike Force settled for a 31 yard field goal to get on the board 7-3 with 7:57 left in the opening quarter.
After the Sugar Skulls threw an interception in the end zone on a fourth down play, San Diego came back to take the lead 10-7 on a one yard run by Edward Vander at the start the second quarter.
The Skulls had a mishandled snap that resulted in a fumble recovery by San Diego at midfield.
Even though Tucson defense held the Strike Force to a twenty yard field goal, their turnover loomed large in a low scoring first half.
With 6:11 left in the half, San Diego led 13-7.
The game slowed down from there as each team had their problems executing.
San Diego came away with a thirty four field to extend their lead 16-7 with under a minute left in the half.
An unsportsmanlike penalty set Tucson up at the Strike Force’s thirteen yard line. A keeper by Atkins got the ball to the one yard line as Tucson used a timeout with 11 seconds left.
Out of the timeout, it was just a straight up the gut run again by Atkins to pull the Skulls close at 16-14 at the half.
Both teams had offensive difficulties getting into a flow, some of that was a result of good defense, the other on poor execution.
Strike Force got the ball first, but the Tucson defense didn’t give an inch and on fourth down a forty yard field attempt sailed wide.
Tucson didn’t have any success either on their first crack on offense and they gained five yards on four plays and turned the ball back over on their own five to the Strike Force who scored two plays later on a pass to Marques Rodgers and now the Skulls had some work to do down 22-14 at the 9:06 mark of the third quarter.
Sugar Skulls struck quickly as Atkins found a wide open Carrington Thompson on busted defense to waltz into the end zone and Tucson was within a point at 23-22.
The offensive problems continued for the Strike Force as a result of a low throw and a dropped pass on the next play. Another missed field goal gave the ball back to Tucson.
On their first play from scrimmage, Atkins again found a wide open receiver and a rouging the passer penalty was tacked onto the end of the play putting the ball on the San Diego ten yard line.
Three running plays from Mike Jones got the Skulls into the end zone and their first lead since the opening quarter. Tucson went for two and MJ Harris hauled in the pass in the back of the end zone. The conversion put the Sugar Skulls up by a touchdown 30-23 with 12:24 left in the game.
Lightning struck again as the ensuing kickoff was fumbled Carlos Thompson of the Strike Force and another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Tucson had a golden opportunity to put some space between them and the Strike Force. Atkins to Thompson again was the right combination and the Skulls had a two touchdown lead 36-23 with 10:14 left.
San Diego didn’t quit as they took the Skulls kickoff all the way back to the five, but a penalty took the ball back fifteen yards to the Tucson twenty yard line.
Tucson pushed the Strike Force to a fourth and four at the five yard line when a tipped pass found the hands of Kentrez Bell. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful.
With the new rule that the kickoff team can score if the kick goes through the uprights and that’s what San Diego did pulling them within six points 37-31 and 4:18 left in regulation.
Tucson would have try to put some points on board to seal the deal, but that was not to be as Mike Jones fumbled the ball at the San Diego four yard line. The Skulls defense again would now have to come up big with a minute left.
One last gasp for the Strike Force from their own seven yard line. On a Hail Mary pass into the end deflected off two Sugar Skull defenders and into the hand of Kentrez Bell.
The Boneyard crowd fell silent, but things were still not over. A third unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on San Diego forced their extra point to be attempted from near midfield. The initial kick was nullified as Skulls Coach Hurtis Chinn called a time out just before the snap.
After the timeout, San Deigo’s Aeden Johnson missed the point after attempt and the game was tied at 37-37 forcing overtime.
IFL overtime rules allow each team a possession just like the college game.
Tucson won the coin toss and went on offense first. After three plays of little yardage, Mike Jones out of the wildcat formation took it in for the go ahead score and a 44-37 advantage.
San Diego’s turn on offense got a first and goal at the Skulls nine off a quarterback keeper. A one yard plunge by Edward Vander tied up the score 44-44 and into the second overtime they went.
San Diego got the first possession in the second overtime and quickly scored on a seventeen yard pass to Johnson and the Strike Force now had the advantage 51-44.
Tucson methodically moved the ball by using the running of Mike Jones. On fourth down and no one open, Atkins tried to launch himself into the end zone but was two yards short and that was the game.
Final Score – San Diego 51 Tucson 44 (2 OT)
The biggest takeaway for Tucson was two touchdowns called back on penalties and two dropped touchdown passes.
For San Diego, numerous penalties and three unsportsmanlike conduct at crucial times nearly cost them the game.
Tucson had a jersey give away and came into the contest undefeated and yet the small Tucson Arena was far from being full with an attendance of 3136.
The Sugar Skulls go into their bye week at 3-1 and still one of the best teams in the IFL Western Conference. Coach Hurtis Chinn said the team will work on offensive execution and getting injured players healthy.
Now at 3-1, Tucson is still one of the best teams in the IFL Western Conference.
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