(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls (6-4) were coming off of two straight wins into a rubber match with the San Diego Strike Force (4-7).
These two teams have faced off twice prior to this meeting, splitting the series 1-1. Tucson won the first matchup 35-16 in San Diego, and San Diego winning the second one 51-44 in Tucson.
Entering the game, the Skulls were a half game out of a three-way tie for first. Tucson was hoping it would stay that way since they had a first week bye, and possibly creep into first with a Bay Area, and Arizona loss.
The Sugar Skulls got the first possession of the game, when Dequan Dudley ran the kickoff back fifty yards for a touchdown 7-0.
On San Diego’s first crack with the ball, drove down the field mainly through the air when Quarter Back Nate Davis threw a twelve yard touchdown to Wide Receiver Marques Rodgers to tie the score 7-7.
The Skulls had problems running the ball, and ended up turning over on downs.
The Strike Force’s offense used the pass almost exclusively and didn’t have a rushing attempt in the last two outings. This drive resulted in a rushing touchdown by Running Back Edward Vander from eight yards out 14-7 to end the first quarter.
The Skulls utilized Running Back Mike Jones effectively as they drove down the field easily. Atkins finished the drive from seven yards out.
Then the unusual happened, a muffed the snap for the extra point which allowed Strike Force’s David Tolentino Jr to scoop up the fumble and take it back for two points 16-13.
San Diego‘s air game was very effectively, which open up the run and resulted in a touchdown run from ten yards out by Vander to make it 23-13.
With the Skulls down by ten, they looked to abandon their running attack and threw the ball forty yard for a touchdown to Wide Receiver Daylon Person and Tucson crept back to 23-20.
Tucson’s defense had a lot of discipline issues which gave opportunities to the Strike Force which resulted in an eight yard touchdown from Davis to Wide Receiver Kentrez Bell and back to a double digit lead 30-20.
Dudley continued to tear it up on the kick returns and gave the Skulls good field position inside the San Diego fifty yard line.
Benjamin Jones came in to spell Mike Jones and the Skulls to pass from four yards out to Dudley tightened the score 30-27.
Tucson couldn’t keep the Strike Force from marching down the field that resulted in a thirty four yard field goal by Kicker Kevin Goessling.
The teams hit the locker room with San Diego leading 33-27.
The Srrike Force got the ball to begin the second half and very quickly made their way downfield with Davis connecting on a fourteen yard touchdown to Bell. San Diego missed the extra point to make it 39-27.
The Skulls responded with the Mike Jones ground attack and scoring on a fourteen yard run by Atkins as Tucson tightened up the score again 39-34.
The Strike Force continued using the air which resulted in a seven yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Carlos Thompson and back and forth again now with a 46-34 lead.
San Diego went for the deuce but missed, which allowed the Skulls to start at the twenty yard line.
The Skulls started this drive using the passing game until Mike Jones ran it in untouched from four yards out now 46-41 that ended quarter number three.
The Strike Force drove the field again as Tucson’s defense didn’t have an answer. Rudy Johnson scored from the three yard line.
Tucson’s Defensive Lineman Melik Owens blocked an extra point kick for the second week in a row bit still trailed 52-41.
The Sugar Skulls caught a break with the kickoff hit the speakers to spot the ball at midfield.
The Skulls were running short on possessions as they scored on a three yard run by Mike Jones to bring the deficit to four 52-48.
Tucson could not stop the air game of the Strike Force as they kepr scoring this time with twenty six yard touchdown to Carlos Thompson and back to 59-48
The Sugar Skulls stayed in the air down the field to close the deficit with Atkins short run into the end zone. The Skulls attempted a two point conversion but failed 59-54.
San Diego’s special teams came up big with a kick return to midfield. Tucson was forced to use its final timeout.
The Strike Force exposed the second best defense in the league all game terrible as lapses in the secondary led to big gains and touchdowns.
The Sugar Skulls had a roughing the passer penalty that gave the San Diego an automatic first down. All that needed to be done was kneel the ball and the game was over.
Final score San Diego 59 Tucson 54.
Tucson’s defense was lit up for 207 yards and 5 touchdowns. A far different result from last week.
The front line defense allowed 3 rushing touchdowns, but most of the damage was done through the air tonight.
The Sugar Skulls did not use Benjamin Jones like they did last week, but were still able to run the ball well.
Tucson had drive killing penalties on offense and defensive miscues that kept Strike Force drives alive.
Tucson will be out of town next week facing Northern Arizona in Prescott. They return to the Boneyard July 1st to face the Las Vegas in the next to last home game of the season.
Tonight’s attendance was 3,263.
With the loss tonight, Tucson falls to third place in the Western Division and cling to a half game lead over defending champion Northern Arizona in the playoff hunt.
Article by Matthew Martell – 520 Sports Talk
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