(Tucson, AZ) Star Wars Night at the Boneyard as Tucson (2-3) returns from the West Coast after a loss to the San Diego Strike Force 48-25 in Oceanside California last week.
The San Antonio Gunslingers (1-3) won their first game last week at home against the Northern Arizona Wranglers 32-14
Honorary Captain for tonight’s game was Arizona Wildcat Men’s Basketball Coach Tommy Lloyd. He did the coin toss which Tucson won and deferred to the second half.
First Quarter
Fred Payton Jr. took the opening possession of the game and threw two quick passes to get the Gunslingers to the Tucson 5 yard line.
There the Skulls defense stiffened and forced a fourth down.The Tucson defense in a delayed blitz nearly sacked the quarterback, but hurried his throw into the end zone fell incomplete. Turnover on downs for the Sugar Skullls.
Newly acquired signal caller Tasleem Wilson from the Massachusetts Pirates in the Eastern Conference didn’t have success on his first possession, which forced a 48 yard field goal attempt which sailed wide left.
The other new acquisition, Chucky Williams made his presence known as he dropped their running back for a loss behind the line of scrimmage.
On third down, Payton Jr. threw a touchdown pass to Dean Cook to put San Antonio up 7-0 with 6:08 left in the opening quarter.
Again, Tucson did nothing on offense after a kickoff return near midfield. Macias hit the right upright on a 41 yard attempt as the Sugar Skulls came away empty.
San Antonio went up by two touchdowns after a 24 yard quarterback keeper by Payton Jr. With under a minute left, Tucson ran the ball nine yards to their own twenty one yard line to end the quarter.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Second Quarter
Finally, the Sugar Skulls got their initial first down on a fourth and one. When Tamorrion Terry caught a short route pass, but on the following play, Tucson fumbled the ball in the end zone for a touchback as the Gunslingers recovered.
San Antonio’s possesion didn’t last long. After a first down catch, Payton Jr. threw an interception to Williams and the Skulls got new life on the turnover.
The good “Juju” continued as pass interference as called on San Antonio that kept the drive alive. The Gunslingers kept being called for penalties which aided Tucson.
Terry caught a swing pass and was tackled at the 1 yard line, but that created a fourth down and goal. The next play, Wilson took it in for the Sugar Skulls first touchdown that cut the lead in half 14-7 with 5:02 left in the half.
The Gunslingers fumbled but Payton Jr. fell on it after a 6 yard loss. The Tucson defense had the “Daily Double” as they sacked Payton Jr. at his own 1 yard line. A 61 yard field goal attempt fell short and the Skulls held with 1:32 left.
Kizer’s bunch had a chance to steal points knowing they’d get the ball first in the second half.
Terry with a pitch and catch pass got the ball down to the San Antonio 13 yard line for a first down.
The following play, Terry hauled in Wilson’s pass to tie up the score 14-14 with :37 seconds left until halftime.
With 32 seconds left, San Antonio threw underneath for 11 yards to set up their next play. Glenn Gibbons (former Arizona Rattler) caught a 24 yard pass in the back of the end zone for the score. The extra point missed, but offsetting penalties gave kicker Tyler Huettel another shot and he nailed it from 29 yards out. San Antonio regained the lead 21-14 with 21 seconds remaining.
Now Wilson had 18 seconds to make something happen. With no one open downfield Wilson had to eat the ball and gained three yards and a Tucson timeout. A quick in pattern got the ball to the Gunslingers’ 24 yard line where Caoch Kizer called his second timeout with only 3 seconds left.
Tucson elected to attempt a 24 yard field goal which Macias converted and a 21-17 Gunslingers lead to end the half.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Halftime
Tucso’s inability to tun the ball put a lot of pressure on Wilson who’s still learning the offense to make plays down field.
San Antonio’s front line defense held their own as they forced the Sugar Skulls into a one demential offensive team.
the Skulls defense kept the team in the game with stellar play inside the red zone.
Third Quarter
The Sugar Skulls came out on the first possession of the second half. With the help of a couple of San Antonio penalties created a third and goal inside the 5 yard line. Tucson still had little or no success and turned the ball over on downs when Wilson’s pass fell incomplete in the back of the end zone.
Gunslingers got much better field position after a 13 yard pass completion to their own 20 yard line. The underneath pass routes which had been working all game got them down to the 4 yard line. On the next play, Deion McShay scored on a great second effort breaking away to score and a 28-17 Gunslingers lead with 5:09 left in the quarter and a two possession lead.
Offensively, the funk continued at Tucson could not move the ball. Macias’ 43 yard attempt was just short, but the Sugar Skulls came away empty.
From just outside their own end zone, Payton Jr. used his legs to get just enough to get out of danger and a first down at the Tucson 17 yard line. Now with more room to work, San Antonio began to pick up bigger chunks of yardage. The football on the Skulls 18 yard line.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Fourth Quarter
After the Gunslingers drive stalled, Huettel’s 37 yard field goal attempt was wide left Tucson dodged another bullet.
Even with almost the entire quarter left, the Sugar Skulls offfense needed a sense of urgency on this drive.
That was not to be as Wilson’s pass was picked off then fumbled but still recovered by the Gunslinger defense. The play would be challenged by Coach Kizer and the call was overturned when it was decided that the defender didn’t complete the possession of the ball on the interception.
Tucson had another chance, but a weak kick by Macias was woefully short to add to four missed kicks.
Good secondary play by Tucson forced a 4th down and 12 yards for the Gunslingers> Tucson couldn’t afford another score to fall behind three possessions. With no one open downfield, Payton Jr, ran for just enough to covert the first down.
Deon Cook caught a 5 yard touchdown pass from Payton Jr. and San Antonio went ahead three possessions up 35-17 with 3:59 left in the game.
Needing to score on every possession left, Tucson didn’t start out with good field possession at their own 5 yard line. After getting a first down, the offense went south. At the 1 minute warning on 4th down. Out went the lights on the Skulls as James Dallas Jr. intercepted Wilson’s pass the game was a wrap.
Final Score San Antonio 35 Tucson 17.
Wrap Up
The game didn’t feature a lot of Sugar Skull offense as new quarterback Wilson with only a week to learn the playbook and acclimate himself with his new team. He had problems with consistency and the lack of a running game, turned Tucson into a one demential team.
San Antonio’s defensive front line held the Skulls rushing attack in check. The secondary also played well on coverage, taking the deep ball away from Tucson.
The Sugar Skulls never had the lead and were forced to chase San Antonio the entire game. The Sugar Skulls defense spent too much time on the field as the anemic offense failed to get first downs and sustain drives. More time than not, it was fourth down and Macias was their only option for points. Macias missed 4 field goals, making only 1.
Practice this upcoming week needs to address the lack of productivity on offense and the kicking game.
The road doesn’t get any easier next weekend as Tucson will head north to Glendale to face the first place Arizona Rattlers at Desert Diamond Arena.
Tonight’s attendance figures were around 3,000 and the largest crowd this season.
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