Post by alecs on Apr 19, 2024 4:37:43 GMT -8
Gunslingers 60, Sugar Skulls 36
4/18/24 --
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Thursday night kicked off Week 6 of the IFL Season, and it was "Fiesta Night" in full force at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The party was a lively one for the host Gunslingers, who were quick to the draw and bested the Tucson Sugar Skulls by a score of 60-36. Tonight's successful outing marks the first IFL win for the Gunslingers and snaps an overall seven-game losing streak dating back to their play in the 2023 National Arena League season.
San Antonio would start the game with a bang, developing a six-play scoring drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sam Castronova to Keyshawn Harper. Following a deuce by T.C. Stevens, the Gunslingers were able to stop the Sugar Skulls short on a fourth down attempt, taking over at the San Antonio 12-yard line. Castronova would then convert a fourth down of his own on a huge 40-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Myers. The first quarter was all Gunslingers, who carried a 16-to nil lead into the second frame.
Tucson's second possession of the game would see them put up their first points of the game, with Torrance Gibson taking a QB keeper in for a four-yard touchdown rush. Gibson would then convert a two-point conversion to halve the San Antonio lead to eight. San Antonio struck right back with a second touchdown catch from Myers of eight yards. An errant Gibson pass into the endzone was intercepted by Jac Pappillion. Castronova would convert that takeaway into points with a one-yard touchdown run, bringing San Antonio's lead to 30-8. Tucson ran a lengthy possession into the one-minute warning and capped it off with a three-yard rushing score by Mike Jones. The Gunslingers had enough time to squeak out yet another touchdown before the half, with Castronova unwinding a 19-yard touchdown pass to Austin Upshaw. Tucson could only manage a field goal attempt with its final possession, with the attempt by Demitri Fotinos sailing wide left to take the teams into the locker room with the score sitting at 37-14 Gunslingers.
Tucson began the third quarter with the ball and took just over two minutes to find the endzone, with Gibson's second rushing TD of the game from 11 yards out. San Antonio would cap a five-minute touchdown drive with Nyqwan Murray the recipient of a five-yard Castronova touchdown pass. The Sugar Skulls would again take just two minutes to score again, getting a huge 30-yard receiving touchdown from Mike Carrigan. The Gunslingers, at this point intent on executing a clock-management strategy, would see its second drive of the half through to the end of the quarter, with their lead at 44-28.
San Antonio ultimately stayed perfect with another touchdown, coming from a five-yard pass from Castronova to Upshaw for the receiver's second house call of the evening. Following Stevens' second deuce, Tucson responded with a two-play drive ending in Gibson's third rushing score of the ballgame of seven yards. Continuing to milk clock, the Gunslingers ran a drive lasting six minutes, putting up points yet again with a 15-yard pass from Castronova to Kali Rashaad. Needing points quickly at this juncture, the Sugar Skulls were ultimately set back by another endzone interception, this one hauled in by Giovonne Sanders just outside the one-minute warning. After one last first down, San Antonio took winning formation to finalize their first ever win as an IFL franchise, 60-36.
Sam Castronova sparkled once again in victory, completing 14 of 19 passes for 142 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing nine times for 30 yards and one touchdown. Keyshawn Harper rushed 14 times for 37 yards to lead San Antonio in rushing and also had an 11-yard touchdown catch. D.J. Myers (6/75/2) and Austin Upshaw (4/34/2) each were the recipients of two Castronova touchdown tosses, as five different Gunslingers recorded receiving touchdowns tonight. Giovonne Sanders and Jac Pappillion each had interceptions on defense, the first interceptions of the season for the Gunslinger defense.
Torrance Gibson filled in for Mylik Mitchell (out, undisclosed) tonight, completing five of 15 passes for 104 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions in defeat. He paced the Sugar Skulls with 17 rushes for 80 yards and three touchdowns as well. Mike Carrigan was the only Sugar Skull receiver to log more than one catch, with two receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Robert Sheffield led all defenders with 8.5 total tackles in the loss.
On the evening, San Antonio outgained Tucson by a 234-204 margin. Each team was penalized ten times, with the infractions costing the Sugar Skulls and Gunslingers 71 and 68 yards, respectively. San Antonio held a significant 35:00-25:00 advantage in time of possession as well, while winning the turnover margin by count by two to nil.
Tonight's game officially opens the ledger on the all-time series between Tucson and San Antonio, with the reverse fixture coming towards the end of the season, on Saturday July 13th at the Tucson Convention Center.
The Gunslingers (1-3) will visit the Frisco Fighters (3-0) on Friday April 26 for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. The Sugar Skulls (1-3) will retreat back to Tucson host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (2-1) on Saturday April 27 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
4/18/24 --
SAN ANTONIO, TX - Thursday night kicked off Week 6 of the IFL Season, and it was "Fiesta Night" in full force at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas. The party was a lively one for the host Gunslingers, who were quick to the draw and bested the Tucson Sugar Skulls by a score of 60-36. Tonight's successful outing marks the first IFL win for the Gunslingers and snaps an overall seven-game losing streak dating back to their play in the 2023 National Arena League season.
San Antonio would start the game with a bang, developing a six-play scoring drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sam Castronova to Keyshawn Harper. Following a deuce by T.C. Stevens, the Gunslingers were able to stop the Sugar Skulls short on a fourth down attempt, taking over at the San Antonio 12-yard line. Castronova would then convert a fourth down of his own on a huge 40-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Myers. The first quarter was all Gunslingers, who carried a 16-to nil lead into the second frame.
Tucson's second possession of the game would see them put up their first points of the game, with Torrance Gibson taking a QB keeper in for a four-yard touchdown rush. Gibson would then convert a two-point conversion to halve the San Antonio lead to eight. San Antonio struck right back with a second touchdown catch from Myers of eight yards. An errant Gibson pass into the endzone was intercepted by Jac Pappillion. Castronova would convert that takeaway into points with a one-yard touchdown run, bringing San Antonio's lead to 30-8. Tucson ran a lengthy possession into the one-minute warning and capped it off with a three-yard rushing score by Mike Jones. The Gunslingers had enough time to squeak out yet another touchdown before the half, with Castronova unwinding a 19-yard touchdown pass to Austin Upshaw. Tucson could only manage a field goal attempt with its final possession, with the attempt by Demitri Fotinos sailing wide left to take the teams into the locker room with the score sitting at 37-14 Gunslingers.
Tucson began the third quarter with the ball and took just over two minutes to find the endzone, with Gibson's second rushing TD of the game from 11 yards out. San Antonio would cap a five-minute touchdown drive with Nyqwan Murray the recipient of a five-yard Castronova touchdown pass. The Sugar Skulls would again take just two minutes to score again, getting a huge 30-yard receiving touchdown from Mike Carrigan. The Gunslingers, at this point intent on executing a clock-management strategy, would see its second drive of the half through to the end of the quarter, with their lead at 44-28.
San Antonio ultimately stayed perfect with another touchdown, coming from a five-yard pass from Castronova to Upshaw for the receiver's second house call of the evening. Following Stevens' second deuce, Tucson responded with a two-play drive ending in Gibson's third rushing score of the ballgame of seven yards. Continuing to milk clock, the Gunslingers ran a drive lasting six minutes, putting up points yet again with a 15-yard pass from Castronova to Kali Rashaad. Needing points quickly at this juncture, the Sugar Skulls were ultimately set back by another endzone interception, this one hauled in by Giovonne Sanders just outside the one-minute warning. After one last first down, San Antonio took winning formation to finalize their first ever win as an IFL franchise, 60-36.
Sam Castronova sparkled once again in victory, completing 14 of 19 passes for 142 yards and seven touchdowns and rushing nine times for 30 yards and one touchdown. Keyshawn Harper rushed 14 times for 37 yards to lead San Antonio in rushing and also had an 11-yard touchdown catch. D.J. Myers (6/75/2) and Austin Upshaw (4/34/2) each were the recipients of two Castronova touchdown tosses, as five different Gunslingers recorded receiving touchdowns tonight. Giovonne Sanders and Jac Pappillion each had interceptions on defense, the first interceptions of the season for the Gunslinger defense.
Torrance Gibson filled in for Mylik Mitchell (out, undisclosed) tonight, completing five of 15 passes for 104 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions in defeat. He paced the Sugar Skulls with 17 rushes for 80 yards and three touchdowns as well. Mike Carrigan was the only Sugar Skull receiver to log more than one catch, with two receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Robert Sheffield led all defenders with 8.5 total tackles in the loss.
On the evening, San Antonio outgained Tucson by a 234-204 margin. Each team was penalized ten times, with the infractions costing the Sugar Skulls and Gunslingers 71 and 68 yards, respectively. San Antonio held a significant 35:00-25:00 advantage in time of possession as well, while winning the turnover margin by count by two to nil.
Tonight's game officially opens the ledger on the all-time series between Tucson and San Antonio, with the reverse fixture coming towards the end of the season, on Saturday July 13th at the Tucson Convention Center.
The Gunslingers (1-3) will visit the Frisco Fighters (3-0) on Friday April 26 for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. The Sugar Skulls (1-3) will retreat back to Tucson host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (2-1) on Saturday April 27 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-AS
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.
