(PHOENIX, AZ) Coming off two wins in their first two games, the Tucson Sugar Skulls found they needed to step to another level to compete against the Arizona Rattlers.
After a glimmer of hope when they took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the Sugar Skulls found what the next level looks like as the Rattlers rolled to a 63-28 victory in front of 16,110 fans at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
“This was a great chance for us to play against a championship franchise,” said quarterback Jake Medlock who entered the game in the second half. “This is how it’s done on offense, special teams, defense. You can’t miss a beat.”
Tucson took its only lead on its second possession of the game on Mike Jones’ 2-yard run. The Sugar Skulls then created their own problems with turnovers and on special teams.
The Rattlers had tied the game at 7 when a Diego Marquez field goal attempt was blocked and recovered in the end zone. On the first play after the kickoff, quarterback Matt Behrendt fumbled at the 7-yard-line, and the Rattlers recovered. Two plays later the score was 21-7 when quarterback Verlon Reed Jr. ran the ball in from the 3. By the end of the half, the Sugar Skulls were down 35-14.
“That was the moment when we couldn’t get it back and it just started snowballing after that,” Head Coach Marcus Coleman said of the quick back-to-back touchdowns by the Rattlers. “Even though we had some positive plays on both sides of the ball after that, we just couldn’t get it back.”
As in the season opener, Coleman made a switch at quarterback at the start of the second half, bringing Medlock. Neither quarterback had the success they had in the first two games. They were a combined 12 of 26 passing for 93 yards and one touchdown.
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Jones did provide an offensive spark rushing for 63 yards on nine carries with two touchdowns. He now has five TDs on the season having played only in the season opener and against the Rattlers.
Linebacker Zach Allen continued to lead the defense with 11 solo tackles. He entered the game leading the IFL in total tackles.
The Sugar Skulls now have a week to regroup with a bye this week before taking on the San Diego Strike Force March 31 in Tucson. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
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