(Tucson, AZ) After losing their home opener two weeks ago the Sugar Skulls had a bye week to figure things out.
The Sugar Skulls at home in the Boneyard faced the defending IFL Champs from Prescott the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Tucson was still in first place by a half a game in the Western Divison over the Bay Area Panthers coached by former Skulls Coach Dixie Wooten.
The Skulls took the opening kickoff and methodically drove the field but the stout Northern Arizona defense held on fourth down and Tucson came away empty and used half of the first quarter. Coach Hurtis Chinn decided not to attempt a chip shot field goal.
A long pass from the Wranglers on their second play from scrimmage set them up on the Skull’s five yard line first and goal. Then disaster struck when Jerrod Ware Jr. fumbled the ball in the end zone trying to stretch it over the goal line.
Tucson escaped and got the ball back, but it took four downs to gain the first down. Throughout the drive, quarterback Ramone Atkins didn’t have the best pass protection. From the midfield area, Atkins completed a pass to Carrington Thompson who was stripped along the sidelines and returned it just short of the end zone. The Sugar Skull defense stiffened for the first three plays and created a fourth down at the two yard line.
That ended a scoreless first quarter with only three offensive possessions and no scoring.
The Sugar Dolls Dance Team
On the first play of the second quarter, Northern Arizona punched it in on an indoor football’s version of the “jet sweep” and a 7-0 lead.
Sugar Skulls now behind wanted to tie it up, but a second turnover open an interception which was returned to the two yard line and Tucson was in a world of hurt.
If it wasn’t for lackadaisical play of the Wranglers who nearly turned the ball back over on a muffed handoff this would have been a Keystone Cops episode.
Northern Arizona settled down for the next play and scored to make it a two touchdown lead 14-0 with a little over nine minutes left in the half.
Tucson got their act together on their next offensive possession as the offense bagan to click. On a third and goal from the eight, Carrington Thompson caught a short pass to score the Sugar Skulls first points and cut into the lead but missed the extra point 14-6 with 3:01 left in the half.
Things still weren’t right for the Skulls as they kicked the ball out of bounds after the score and the Wranglers made them pay with a quarterback keeper to put the lead back to 21-6.
More unusual play as Northern Arizona tried a squib kick but Tucson got the ball with great field possession with under a minute to play.
Mike Jones with his head down bulled his way into the end zone for the score. The Sugar Skulls went for two on a quarterback sneak and made the score 21-14 with :21 seconds left. Plenty of time in the IFL to get a quality possession.
After the kickoff, the Wranglers had :17 seconds to work with. Two passes later, Northern Arizona found themselves first and goal from the Tucson five yard line.
An incomplete pass with six seconds forced a twenty yard field goal to end the half at 24-14.
Things got going in a hurry to open the second half as the Wranglers took the kick off all the way to the Tucson thirteen yard line.
The Skulls defense was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct when the corner threw the shoe of the Northern Arizona player into the stands.
One again Tucson dodged a bullet when they deflected a Garrett Kettle pass up in the air and was picked off by JJ Dallas and the Sugar Skulls had an opportunity to draw closer.
The Skulls kept shooting themselves in the foot as Atkins threw another interception and another chance went down the drain.
One bright spot was the Skull’s defense who got tough and forced a thirty five yard field goal which sailed wide and a sigh a relief from the Tucson bench.
Turnover number four saw Mike Jones coughed up the ball after a nice run and once again another possession went up in smoke as the third quarter ended.
Redemption once again kept the Sugar Skulls in the game when Kettle’s pass once again was tipped and Mike Minter came up with the ball to squelch the Wranglers possession in the shadow of the Tucson end zone.
Finally, the Skulls made something happen as Atkins threw a twenty yard touchdown pass to Emetrious Scott and the game was now within a tying field goal for the home team with 10:43 left in the game.
Tucson’s defense continued their stingy play as they forced a fourth and four from the Skulls nineteen yard line and 8:00 left.
Kettle had another one of his passes picked off, this time by former Arizona Wildcat Rashie Hodge and the hope was back again for Tucson.
This game saw more interceptions than any Indoor Football League game in recent memory as Atkins had his third pick and fifth turnover. Now it was up to the defense once again.
With a minute left, Tucson’s defense got called for an illegal blitz and the ball now at the two yard line.
A two yard sweep play for a touchdown looked to put the game out of reach with a ten point advantage for the defending champs 31-21.
Last gasp by the Sugar Skulls saw a microcosm of the lack of offense seen throughout the game with incomplete passes and throwing into coverage.
Final Score: Northern Arizona 31 Tucson 21.
This game was very sloppy as both teams turned the ball over five times apiece.
Some turnovers led to points, but most were drive killers and greatly contributed to the relatively low score. Most IFL games see the eighty to ninety point range combined.
So, Tucson will travel east across the state line to Albuquerque next week to face the Gladiators who are 2-3 but have a big matchup with Eastern Division leader Frisco Fighters on Sunday.
Tonight’s attendance was 2,292.
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