(Tucson, AZ) The Sugar Skulls (2-3) came in fresh off one of the most exciting games in franchise history beating the defending champion Rattlers last week.
The defense which has been the strongest part of this team played exceptionally well shutting out Arizona 22-0 in the final quarter to secure the win. The defense set up Tucson’s offense in very favorable field positions last week.
With a mid season acquisition of quarterback Jorge Reyna, the Sugar Skulls’ offense has gotten a big shot in the arm and will take some pressure off of the defense. Tucson is averaging 31.4 points a game down from previous years.
The Massachusetts Pirates came in (2-3) and off a bye week and were currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Generally, the teams on the East Coast play very physical football.
Tucson won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
First Quarter
The Pirates began their opening drive on the ground until Tucson put them into a third down situation. A long completion to the Sugar Skulls 10 yard line kept the drive alive.
Tucson didn’t give up another yard as the Pirates’ fourth and ten play was incomplete in the back of the end zone and a turnover on downs.
A slow offensive start saw Jose Reyna on a third and ten throw deep but it was intercepted at the Massachusetts 10 yard line.
Both teams tried to establish an offensive flow, the Pirates on the ground and Tucson through the air.
Massachusetts again faced with another fourth down twelve situation chose to attempt a 40 yard field goal which was well short and brought back out to the Sugar Skulls 14 yard line.
A carbon copy of their first possession as Reyna under threw his intended receiver for his second pick.
Fortunately, on the first play after the turnover, Pirate quarterback Kenji Bahar returned the favor and threw a pick six to the Skulls’ Ahmad Lyons to put Tucson on the board first and a 7-0 lead.
The defenses were on their game for both teams forcing third and fourth down situations.
The Sugar Skulls had a defensive lapse as Pooka Williams Jr. waltzed in from 15 yards out on a counter play to tie the score 7-7 just prior to the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Reyna switched to the run game to move the ball, but after getting the first down, took a 9 yard sack. After a completion, Tucson faced a fourth down but were bailed out by a Pirate offsides call that kept the drive going. Tripp Harrington scoring on a sweep put the Sugar Skulls back on top. The extra point was missed for a 13-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
To make up for the missed extra point, kicker Kevin Macias attempted a deuce but was unsuccessful.
The Massachusetts offense got in gear and had a first and goal at the Sulls 3 yard line. Tucson’s defense took them to a third down, but Bahar faked a handoff and took it in himself to score. With the extra point, the Pirates took a one point lead 14-13 at the 3:00 minute mark.
The Sugar Skulls were fortunate to get the kick return out of the end zone and started at their own 2 yard line. After an illegal defense on the Pirates, Reyna found a wide open Drew Dixon for 26 yards and Tucson got out of trouble and was threatening. Taking a pitch up the far side, Jamyest Williams went into the end zone untouched. Trying to get points back, Coach Billy Back went for a two point conversion which failed miserably. Tucson up 19-14 with just under a minute left.
On a fourth down and 14 seconds left in the half, Joshua Gable missed a 40 yard kick with :08 left the first half.
Tucson ran out the clock.
Halftime
Each team had difficulties getting their offense going consistently in the first half. The defenses put both teams in a lot of third and fourth down situations.
The missed conversions by Tucson was a factor in their scant five point lead.
Third Quarter
The second half started off with a bang for Tucson as Jerome Buckner took the kickoff back to the house to extend the lead 26-14.
Bahar unshaken, drove his team down the field. Tucson’s defense stiffened and forced another fourth down scenario for Massachusetts. Once again, Tucson’s defense rose to the occasion and got the ball back for Reyna and the offense but deep in their own territory.
On a third and fifteen, Reyna was picked off for an apparent Pirate touchdown, but an illegal defense flag blind side block took the points off the board and got the Sugar Skulls out of trouble and reignited the drive. Williams took advantage of the Pirate miscue and strolled into the end zone.
That was a key point in the contest for the Skulls as it could have been a small 26-21 lead if not for the Massachusetts penalty. The resiliency of the new look Tucson Sugar Skulls took full advantage of the opportunity to add to their lead now at 33-14.
After the Sugar Skulls touchdown, Massachusetts Coach Tom Menas as ejected from the game after an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Trying to regroup, the Pirate drove down to score on a 25 yard run by Williams to cut the lead to 33-20 after a missed extra point.
Fourth Quarter
Williams took over the first drive of the final quarter with two exciting cutback runs that put the ball on the Pirates 6 yard line. Massachusetts stopped Reyna on consecutive runs that gained virtually nothing. On third down and goal, Reyna went up top to Harrington in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The Sugar Skulls doubled up the score 40-20 with 10:59 left.
The Pirates took three plays to get inside the Tucson 10 yard line. After a couple of short yardage gains, Bahar faked a handoff and ran it in from the 6 yard line to score. Another missed extra point made the score 40-26 and 6:47 left in the game.
With each team’s offense now fully on point, this was still anyone’s game.
Coach Back wisely used the clock and kept the ball on the ground until Massachusetts called a timeout with 1:49 left.
Out of the timeout, Reyna threaded the needle to former Arizona Wildcat Drew Dixon for a touchdown and the nail in the coffin at the coffin.
The Pirates got a good run back on the ensuing kickoff. First play from scrimmage, the ball was knocked loose from Bahar and Tucson recovered.
Reyna took a knee and it was a wrap with Tucson winning their second consecutive game 47-26 and brought their record to 3-3.
Wrap Up
With the exciting come from behind win last week, that seemingly has kicked started this Sugar Skulls team for the second half of the season.
The offense looked much sharper tonight and were able to put many more points on the scoreboard than their season average.
The defense was its usual self being stingy and putting Massachusetts back on their heels in long yardage situations.
It’s back on the road for Tucson with a short week of practice playing the Bay Area Panthers and former Sugar Skulls coach Dixie Wooten in San Jose California on Friday.
The Panthers lost in a shootout tonight in Glendale 53-48 to the Arizona Rattlers.
