(Tucson, AZ) The 2026 season started this afternoon at the Boneyard. Tucson has a new ownership group who made many changes from years past. A better fan experience from new concession food to VIP areas to pregame fun.
The schedule threw Tucson right into the fire hosting the defending IFL Champs, the Las Vegas Knight Hawks. Vegas won the championship last year over Green Bay right here at the Tucson Arena.
The advantage the visitors have is they’ve already played one game two weeks ago and had extra time to prepare for this game. They were edged by Green Bay 37-35 in an IFL Championship rematch.
The Sugar Skulls made wholesale changes from the head coach to the players roster in the offseason. It may take a few games to gel, but the optimism is high.
First Quarter
Las Vegas got the ball first after a ong runback to the Sugar Skulls 18 yard line. It took just one play for the Knight Hawks to score. Jayden De Laura threw a dump off pass to Deshon Stoudemire for the quick score, but the extra point was blocked. Vegas up 6-0 before the seats even got warm.
Tucson’s turn with the ball started just over midfield. After a couple of run plays, Dreylen Ellis hit Tamorrion Terry on a button hook route in the front of the end zone to give the Skulls the lead 7-6.
The Night Hawks came right back ans scored off a spectacular catch at the back wall of the end zone in which Quentin Randolph flipped over the wall to put Las Vegas back on top 13-7 with 7:04 left in the opening quarter.
Things went south of the on the ensuing kickoff as the ball got away from the returner and was tackled in the end zone for a one point rouge for the Hawks. That made up for the missed extra point earlier and a 14-7 lead.
Tucson failed to move the ball and had to kick an almost impossible field goal which was way short and retuned by Vegas back to the Sugar Skulls 20 yard line.
De Laura dr0ve down a bit more methodical but still scored on an 8 yard check off pass to Randolph for the score and widen their lead 21-7 to end the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Skulls began the quarter with a long post pattern to Terry all the way to the Vegas 5 yard line. Ellis took matters into his own hands as darted in for the score that cut the deficit to 21-14.
Early on, things got a little chippy as two unsportsmanlike penalties were assessed to the Sugar Skulls.
Tucson’s kickoff special team got worked on all three kickoffs as the Hawks ran the kickoff back 50 yards for the score. Las Vegas led 27-14 with still 11:32 left till the half.
Things went from bad to worse as Rul’s kick hit the upright and was recovered in the end zone for a Knight Hawk touchdown and a 34-14 lead for the defending champs.
After starting in the shadow of their own end zone, Ellis guided the offense down the field, albeit with the help of a pass interference penalty down inside the 5 yard line. Kevin Macias kicked a short field goal after the offense failed to move the ball. With 3:54 left, Las Vegas led 35-17.
The penalties really put Tucson at a disadvantage as they finally got good coverage on a kickoff and were stung by another flag which gave Las Vegas great field position deep in Skulls territory.
De Laura dumped it off the Senicka McKie from 2 yards out to extend their commanding lead 42-17.
The Knight Hawks finally made an error that gave Tucson great field position deep at the Vegas 12 yard line when they were penalized for offsides on an onside kickoff attempt.
After a couple of penalties and with three time outs, the Skulls had a golden opportunity to score, but Ellis was hit as he released the ball and into the hands of Vegas’ Irshaad Davis to end the half.
Vegas 42-17 with the lead.
Third Quarter
Once again, the Sugar Skulls had difficulty fielding the kickoff in the end zone and Las Vegas got their second one point rouge of the game, quickly 43-17.
Macias called on again to bail out the offense, booted a 35 yard kick to make the score 43-20 at the 10:06 mark of the quarter.
Tucson caught a break on a holding call on the Knight Hawks in the end zone for a two point safety to make the score 43-22.
Getting the ball back after the safety, Ellis took the team inside the 1 yard line. Ellis vaulted into the end zone for the touchdown. Nine points in a couple of minutes seemed to light up the Skulls now down 43-29
With the resurgent Sugar Skulls offense, the defense stepped up and Vegas now felt a little pressure. On fourth and six, De Laura threw to Randolph again, who hauled it in for the score and a 50-29 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Tucson had some work to do in the final quarter. Brian Smith picked off De Laura in the back of the end zone to start off. The Skulls defense would have to make some stops on defense to get back into the game. Tucson got the score on a Brian Smith touchdown, 50-36.
In what should have been a 10 yard gain, McKee took De Laura’s pass up the near sidelines downfield and in for the touchdown. That was the final nail in the coffin as the KnightHawks added to their lead 57-36.
Ellis was intercepted and Josh Tomas on a 1 yard run after the turnover added to the Skulls misery 64-36 with 4:05 remaining.
The Sugar Skulls needed a spark to soften the blow of this game and go out on a positive note. That spark came with a minute left as Ellis hit Smith in the corner of the end zone for the game’s final points, 64-42.
Wrap Up
Tucson will travel next door to Albuquerque on Saturday and they’ll have a busy week at practice trying to learn and adjust from their miscues today.
A big point of emphasis will be special teams kickoff coverage. Las Vegas played with a short field virtually the entire game. No defense would be successful in that scenario.
The crowd was 2400 was inside the Arena, however 3900 tickets were bought and another event at the Convention Center used a lot of the parking.
This will be a learning opportunity for the team and the coaching staff. On a positive note, they scored more points than they did in a single game most of last year. The potter is still molding the clay and later on will become a thing of beauty and efficiency.
Click on Logo
Click on Logo
