(San Antonio, TX) The Tucson Sugar Skulls were obliterated by the San Antonio Gunslingers in a short-handed matchup resulting in a 60-36 defeat.
Behind the Eight Ball
From the opening kickoff, San Antonio seized control of the game, swiftly finding their way to the endzone and securing an early lead. Their initial touchdown, coupled with a successful conversion, put Tucson on their heels almost immediately. Before the Skulls even had time to catch their breath, they found themselves trailing 16-0 by the end of the first quarter. Once again, the slow start from Tucson proved to be too much to overcome in front of the raucous San Antonio crowd.
Injury Blues
The Skulls team had a shorter preparation time this week, which potentially had a significant impact on their performance in today’s game. As a result, Mylik Mitchell, one of the key players on the team, did not start the game. This absence of a prominent figure in the team might have made it difficult for the Skulls to maintain their usual level of play and could have contributed to their subpar performance today.
While Tucson decided it was best to keep their star quarterback sidelined. Backup Torrance Gibson admirably stepped into the quarterback role, striving to maintain the momentum established by Mitchell’s formidable ball-carrying abilities.
Back From the Dead
Just when it was beginning to look like Tucson was going to get ran out of the arena,
the Skulls fought back with a type of resilience that made head coach Billy Back proud. After Torrance Gibson connected with Mike Jones for their first touchdown of the game, momentum had finally swung in the Sugar Skulls favor. However, this was short-lived as San Antonio answered the bell rather quickly as they extended their lead to 30-8 with a minute left in the half. Despite another touchdown by Mike Jonesand a valiant effort from the Skulls’ defense, the Gunslingers held a commanding lead at halftime.
As the game progressed into the third quarter, the Skulls continued to battle. Gibson, a former five-star from Ohio State, showcased his dual-threat capabilities by maneuvering through the defense for a rushing touchdown. In addition, he converted a successful two-point conversion to cap off the drive to keep Tucson in striking distance. Regrettably, Gibson was intercepted on a pass intended for wideout Mike Carrigan with just three minutes remaining in regulation which ended up being the nail in the coffin.
Defensive Struggles
Nonetheless, despite their defensive efforts, the Skulls struggled to contain the Gunslingers’ offensive onslaught. Time and time again, Tucson was not up to the challenge as San Antonio had their way with the football in their possession. Whether through the air or by land, the Gunslingers became prone in finding the end zone at all times. Although San Antonio entered the contest having yet to win a game at 0-3, their offensive efficiency has not been their issue for the early season woes.
Without a serious push up front by the defensive line to get pressure on the quarterback and allowing too much separation by the secondary, Tucson was doomed defensively from the start, In the final quarter, the Sugar Skulls continued their relentless pursuit of a comeback.
The Tucson Sugar Skulls will look to bounce back as they prepare for their next matchup against the Northern Arizona Wranglers, on April 27th back home in Tucson, determined to turn the tide in their favor and showcase their competitive spirit on the field.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – Alexa Coronado
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