(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls (1-3) entered the game on a two game skid. Following a loss last week to the Gunslingers, Tucson had a redemption game against the Northern Arizona Wranglers (3-1).
The Sugar Skull wanted to play well before their bye week. Their first matchup this season ended in a 54-48 Northern Arizona win.
Starting signal caller Mylike Mitchell did not get the start due to a knee sprain that caused him to miss out last week as well. Backup Tasleem Wilson got the call.
Northern Arizona won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Tucson started the game on their own fourteen yard line.
The Skulls were rushing down the field well to start the game. The drive stalled when they switched to airing the ball out. With the backup quarterback with not a lot of reps, caused two pre-snap penalties. Kicker Dimitri Fotinos’ twenty-nine yard attempt was blocked.
The Wranglers started off throwing the ball. A targeting call on Tucson defensive back Ahmad Lyons, allowed the Wranglers to move down the field. Kobay White caught a seven yard touchdown pass from Joshua Jones (7-0).
The Skulls ad libbed on broken pass plays, scrambling and flipping passes to the dump route, which put them into Northern Arizona territory.
At the end of the first quarter the score was 7-0 Northern Arizona leading.
Tucson started the second quarter throwing an interception to Wrangler Cornerback Travion Banks, but he fumbled and recovered by Skull’s Dallas Reins. This crazy situation resulted in nothing except a Tucson turnover on downs.
Northern Arizona on their second possession, completed a forty yard pass to Receiver John Maldonado for a touchdown, in a two play drive. Wranglers muffed the snap on the extra point attempt. NAZ up 13-0.
Next Tucson possession started at their own ten. Wilson and receiver Mike Carrigan got their chemistry together, which opened up running back Mike Jones for a big sixteen yard reception and two plays later, he scored. That put the Sugar Skulls on the board training 13-7.
The Wranglers continued to expose the weakness of the Tucson’s secondary making big yardage plays. Tucson’s defense pressured J Jones, who threw the ball into the stands, and a change of possession on downs.
The Skulls continued to use the second quarter momentum they built by throwing the ball, but were quickly stopped and forced a turnover on downs.
The Wranglers’ J Jones ran the ball in from thirteen yards out and scored. NAZ upped their lead 20-7.
The Sugar Skulls had thirty-seven seconds to score, but an interception and run back by Wrangler defensive back Kevin Hyde and now Northern Arizona had the ball at the thirteen yard line and ten seconds left in the half.
The Wranglers twenty-eight yard field goal attempt initially was no good, but there was extracurricular activity by Tucson after the play. With the rule in the league of being able to challenge anything, the Wranglers challenged defensive formation on the missed field goal play. This allowed another field goal attempt now from seventeen yards out and was successful ending the half with the Wranglers up 23-7.
Northern Arizona started the second half finding every open receiver. The Skulls tightened up and got the ball back on downs. Another penalty flag flew, this time an unsportsmanlike penalty forced the Sugar Skulls deeper in their own territory.
Tucson started slow, but put a couple of plays together that led to a fourteen yard rushing touchdown by Carrigan. The two point conversion again failed, but cut into the Wrangers lead to end the third quarter with the score 23-13.
NAZ started the final quarter on the Sugar Skulls four yard line and scored again regaining their three possession cushion 31-13.
The Skulls momentum carried them for another fourteen yard run by Jalin Marshall. Tucson went for two points again but it also failed making the score 31-19. The Sugar Skulls couldn’t keep trading scores, a defensive stop was needed of they had any chance of catching up.
The Wranglers started at the twenty, and another big pass play put them to the Tucson five yard line. The Sugar Skulls defense tightened after the big play, forcing a twenty-three yard field goal and the lead was back to 34-19.
The Skulls next drive saw a thirty yard touchdown in one play to Demario McCall. Again the two point try failed, the score 34-25, bit this was the closest Tucson had been in the quarter.
Tucson forced a turnover on a challenged penalty call and were now firing on all cylinders. An amazing seven yard one handed catch by Marshall in the back of the end zone. The Skulls went for a two point conversion which failed yet again. The score 34-31.
Tucson’s frantic comeback fell short as the Wranglers kneeled to end the game.
Final score, 34-31. The Skulls are now 1-4 and 0-2 at the boneyard.
The Skulls were able to move the ball fairly well on offense between the ten yard lines but got stuffed once they got close to the end zone until half time.
As for the defense, the cornerback play needs to be tightened up because of too many long yardage plays.
Tucson’s bye week came at a good time to help get starting quarterback Mylike Mitchell back. The defense can rest up, and focus on the big plays they gave up tonight.
After the bye week the Skulls have their first family affair matchup of the season against the Arizona Rattlers at home on May 11th.
Today’s attendance was only 2500. This was the last weekend for the Pima County Fair and the Spring Football Game for the Arizona Wildcats that split the fan base between events.
Article by Matthew Martell Jr. – 520 Sports Talk
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