(Tucson, AZ) The Sugar Skulls (6-8) had one more game at the Boneyard this afternoon against the bottom dweller Northern Arizona (3-11). Ironically, June 28th, the Wranglers broke Tucson’s win streak in Prescott Valley. A game Coach Kizer would rather forget.
It was Sponge Bob Night to close out the home portion and of the regular season. The good news is that Tucson made the IFL Playoffs. Earlier in the day, the upstate rival Arizona Wranglers beat San Antonio in Texas knocking the Wranglers out of the playoffs and to clinch the 4 Seed in the West for Tucson.
Tucson’s season story is nothing short of a fairytale. Starting off 2-2 , then suffering through a four game losing streak, to some the season looked already doomed.
A masterful decision by Owner Edmund Marquez to overhaul half the roster paid off immediately. They then went on a four game winning streak.
This was a very important game in the regards to jumpstarting the team back on the winning end. No one wants to limp into the Playoffs.
First Quarter
Tucson won the coin toss and elected to receive. Northern Arizona’s Nestor Higuera kicked a deuce on the opening kickoff for an early 2-0 lead.
The Sugar Skulls came out flat on their first series and had to attempt a Woodard 57 yard field goal which was well short.
NAZ with their first crack at the ball. On their first play from scrimmage, a pass interference call moved them from their own 5 yard line to the 15 yard line and more room to operate. After that, the Skulls defense locked down and forced a 43 yard field goal attempt that sailed wide.
Second time around, Brendan Mackey busted a 20 yard ruin up the left sideline and Tucson seemed to have awakened. Three plays later, TF Aye-Durojayie got Tucson on the board as they used the ground game to score. Sugar Skulls up 7-2 at the 6:06 mark.
The Wranglers’ offense still hadn’t gotten on track as they faced a fourth and six and Higuera had to hurry his 41 yard field goal after a bad snap.
Ja’Rome Johnson and the offense went up top on this possession and moved the ball downfield. Then, he changed things up after no one was open downfield and rumbled 16 yards breaking two tackles to score as Tucson extended their lead 14-2 to end the first quarter.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Second Quarter
Northern Arizona came back with a pass attack of their own and marched down the field with solid play calling. Nolan Susel banged into the end zone from a yard out for the Wranglers first touchdown as they cut the deficit to 14-9 with 11;41 left till halftime.
Lighting struck in the Boneyard as Aaron Jackson took the ball bounced off the end zone wall throwing off the timing of the NAZ kickoff team and 50 yards for the touchdown, just like that Tucson back up by twelve 21-9 with just seconds off the clock.’
It seemed the Sugar Skulls defense took that last touchdown personal and sacked Anthony Garrett for a nine yard loss. Garrett stayed down on the field as he got his left leg caught underneath the defender and had to be carried off the field. Another long field goal miss by Higuera at the 7:55 mark till intermission.
Mackey continued his flawless execution on the ground and receiving and Tucson was threatening again. From the 3 yard line, who else but Mackey for the score and a 28-9 advantage.
NAZ tried another deuce but the ball went off the left upright and was actually a live ball as the Skulls recovered at the Wranglers 10 yard line. Two plays later, Johnson found Javian Loften open in the corner of the end zone from 12 yards out. The extra point was missed but moments later, Woodard hit a deuce on the ensuing kickoff and Tucson adde3d to the Wranglers’ misery leading 36-9.
With a minute to play in the half, new NAZ quarterback DeMarcus Bryant was intercepted in the end zone by Ahmaed Lyons and another Wrangler opportunity went awry.
On a blown coverage, Terrell Brown was wide open for an apparent touchdown, but offsetting penalties nullified the play. That didn’t seem to affect Tucson as they still stole points at the end of the quarter. Northern Arizona didn’t know what hit them here in the first half. Sugar Skulls up 43-9. To rub salt into the wound of the Wrtnglers, Zachariah Twaardosky piked off Bryant in the end zone to close out the first half.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Halftime
It was all Sugar Skulls in the first half as they dominated on both sides of the ball limiting Northern Arizona to 2 first downs and 4-15 passing for 41 yards thanks to the lock down Skulls defense.
It was the Brandon Mackey show in the first half as he was truly the best player on the field. Mackey rushed 7 tines for 60 yards ad a 8.6 per carry average which is incredible in Indoor Football. He also caught 2 passed for 30 yard total.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Third Quarter
Northern Arizona looked like they made some good halftime adjustments as they took the opening drive of the second half. After a pass interference call ion Tucson Bryant went right back to Ka’Ron Ashley from 13 yards out to score which made the score 43-16.
Jackson took the kickoff and streaked through defenders all the way down to the NAZ 3 yard line. He coughed up the ball but Tucson retained possession. After offsetting penalties the runback stood and a couple of plays later, Mackey busted in for the touchdown from the 1 yard line. Tucson 49-16 midway through the third quarter.
The Wranglers knew they had t0 score on every possession from here on out. Ashley cut into the lead with his touchdown catch from 8 yard out and 49-22 score with under six minuted left in the quarter.
After a holding call against the Skulls, they began their drive on their own 3 yard line. Mr. Mackey again bailed them out with a 19 yard run to put the ball neat midfield.
Now keying on Mackey, Johnson said, “wait a minute,” i can run too as he had a 7 and a 9 yard rushes to set up them up at the 3 yard line. Back to Mackey for the score as the two headed monster dominated the quarter and a 55-22 lead heading into the final stanza.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Fourth Quarter
NAZ scored quickly on a two play drive as the Bryant to Ashley combination found the end zone from 14 yards out to make the score 56-28.
The Sugar Skulls now needed just sto shorten the game with the run game. Ayo-Durojayie broke a 20 yard run down to the 1 yard line. The next play, Johnson mishandled the snap and fumbled but fell on the ball at the 6 yard line. A touchdown to Mackey was called back on a Tucson penalty. Now with the ball at the Wrtanglers’ 16 yard line, Mackey ran the ball but again fumbled with the ball now at the 7 yard line. Johnson again called his own number and shot up the middle for the score. Tucson now up 63-28 with 8:01 left.
The Wranglers played fast and saw Bryant scoot down the heart sidelines for 22 yards. Bryant then up top to Marlon Cook who went over the wall with the defender draped all over him for the spectacular catch and made the score 63-35 at the 6:09 mark.
Once again, Tucson worked the clock with their rushing game. Ayo-Durojaiye gained 15 yards down to the Wrangler 13 yard line. Ayo-Durojaiye showed the Skulls fans he’s a valuable running back as well as he scored from the 8 yard line. Tucson 70-35.
Northern Arizona scored with just 6 seconds left on a Bryant to Lewis pass to make the final score 70-42.
Photo – Ray Tapia
Wrap Up
Tucson avenged their hiccup loss in Prescott Valley 51-49 on June 28th with a dominant performance to blow out the Wranglers.
Both offense and defense played lights out as this turned into a stat game for the Skulls.
Tucson’s defense held the Wranglers to just 7 first downs. The Sugar Skulls gained 321 total yards to 157 for Northern Arizona. Johnson was not sacked and threw no picks. The special teams had five kick returns for 92 yards and a touchdown. Mackey almost single-handedly beat the Wranglers as he ran wild throughout the contest.
Up next, two big games with West Champs San Diego Strike Force, one to close out the regular season and the second to open the IFL Playoffs. Both games are in Oceanside California.
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