(Tucson, AZ) The Sugar Skulls (5-4), came into the game off of a 42-41 comeback victory against the Vegas Knight Hawks last week.
Tonight they faced the Duke City Gladiators (4-6), who added two new offensive linemen.
In their last matchup this season, the Skulls lost 56-49. Tucson was looking to avenge that loss and improve in the standings. At game time, they sat a half a game behind in third place and hold the tiebreaker over the Arizona Rattlers, currently in second place.
Something had to change as Tucson has been lackluster at home entering the game this season winning only one of four games.
The Gladiators received the opening kick off and started off their drive on the one yard line. Tucson’s pressure forced a fumble by Defensive Lineman Melik Owens, with the other Defensive Lineman Maurice Jackson scooped and scored for the Sugar Skulls to lead 7-0.
The Gladiators second possession started off better at the fifteen yard line. Duke City started with a two rushing attempts and a first down.
The game was tied 7-7 when a twenty five passing touchdown from Quarterback Charles McCullum connected with Wide Receiver Gary Brown.
Both teams had consecutive possession where they gave up the ball on downs back to back as the first quarter ended.
Tucson continued to use their rush first offense as leading rusher Quarterback Ramone Atkins entering the game with 1172 yards, used his legs to move the Sugar Skulls deep into Duke City territory.
Running Back Benjamin Jones scored from three yards in for a rushing touchdown to retake the lead 14-7.
Duke City drove right back down the field to the one yard line where Running Back Tim Whitfield ran it in to tie the game 14-14.
Tucson switched to the air on the next drive. The Gladiators gave up an offsides penalty that kept the Skulls’ drive alive on a pivotal fourth down.
The Sugar Skulls went back to the run game inside the red zone which opened up a short five yard touchdown pass from Atkins to Wide Receiver Frank Brown and Tucson once again was in the lead 21-14.
Duke City gave the Skulls secondary a big test when their receivers found openings on every pass. The Gladiators finished the drive with a six yard rushing touchdown by Troy Evans to tie the score at 21-21.
Tucson started at midfield from a kicking penalty. This drive the offense was firing on all cylinders with the pass that opened up the run game and to the one yard line.
The Sugar Skulls couldn’t capitalize as time ran out to end the first half 21-21.
Tucson received the second half kick off that started off with a great return from deep in the endzone up to the nineteen yard line.
From there, Benjamin Jones scored his second touchdown of the night from four yards out to ame the score 28-21.
The Gladiators ripped off a huge return of their own to down to the Tucson eight yard line. They capitalized from the nine yard line on a touchdown from nine yards out to Xavier Amey.
Tucson’s Owens blocked the extra point to keep the Sugar Skulls in front 28-27.
With a new IFL kicking rule called a deuce, Duke City’s kickoff sailed between the uprights. Kicker Ernesto Lacayo nailed the deuce to leapfrog into the lead 29-28.
The Skulls kept the ball on the ground that again opened up their receivers. Benjamin Jones continued to contribute in both the air and on the ground helping Tucson get deep into the red zone. From there, Atkins hit Carrington Thompson from the seven yard line in the end zone. The Sugar Skulls two point conversion attempt failed. Now the lead was 34-29 at the end of three quarters.
Duke City took a play out of the Skulls’ book switching to the run more which also opened up their receivers. McCullum ran from three yards out to score. The Gladiators also failed in their two point conversion attempt, but led by one point 35-34.
The Gladiator kicker this time missed the deuce attempt which gave Tucson the ball ar midfield. Atkins threw eighteen yards to Dequan Dudley for the touchdown. Again, the two point conversion and failed but a five point lead 40-35.
Duke City continued to run the ball to set up their pass plays. The Skulls secondary kept getting burned by the Gladiators receivers. They scored a touchdown from five yards out by Brown. Gladiators went for two and also failed yet again but went back on top 41-40.
The Gladiators Kicker Lacayo scored another deuce on the ensuing kickoff for a 43-40 lead.
Tucson confined using Benjamin Jones which opened things up as they marched downfield. They a fourteen yard pass to Thompson and back and forth they went 47-43.
The Skulls were penalized on an offsides call which gave Duke City excellent field position. The Gladiators receiving corps continued to eat up the Skulls’ secondary before it tightened up to stop the drive.
Tucson got a lucky bounce to close out the game with a fumble recovery in the end zone and a 47-43 win.
The Sugar Skulls are now 2-3 at home, and 6-4 on the season ti stay in the playoff hunt.
Tucson is still having issues on offense which is still one of the worst in the league putting more pressure on the defense.
Benjamin Jones’e great outing taking more of a role allowing a triple threat in the back field with Atkins, Mike, and Benjamin Jones to allow them to be more productive.
The Sugar Skulls defense stood out again coming up big in key moments, with the star of the night being Melik Owens.
This marks the Skulls second straight home win and now will face the San Diego Strike Force next week in the Boneyard.
Article by Matthew Martell Jr – 520 Sports Talk
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