Post by DiamondThief on May 30, 2021 15:54:56 GMT -8
Sugar Skulls 55, Gladiators 35
5/30/21 --
RIO RANCHO, NM - The Tucson Sugar Skulls jumped out to a 35-6 halftime lead and never looked back as as they spoiled the Duke City Gladiators' Indoor Football League home opener tonight at Rio Rancho Events Center.
The Sugar Skulls intercepted Duke City quarterback three times in the first half and converted the turnovers into 21 points en route to the 55-35 win to improve to 1-1 on the IFL season.
Duke City was playing the game at Rio Rancho Events Center because their home arena, Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, is being used as a COVID-19 vaccination site. The team is expected to play at least their next two games in Rio Rancho. The Gladiators fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Tucson struck first with a 13-yard pass from Demry Croft to Kent Shelby. After Mike Minter's interception of Davis, the Sugar Skulls scored again on a one-yard run from Mike Jones. The Gladiators got on the board late in the first quarter with a four-yard pass from Davis to Jared Elmore. The Sugar Skulls held a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Sugar Skulls added to the lead with a three-yard pass from Croft to Ryan Balentine. Davis was intercepted on the next Gladiators' drive by Delondo Boyd and the Sugar Skulls capitalized with a six-yard run from Croft to go up 28-6 with 5:01 left in the second quarter. On the Gladiators' next possession, Cory Butler-Byrd intercepted Davis to give the Sugar Skulls the ball back. They responded with a nine-yard strike from Croft to Bowen with two seconds in the half, giving them a 28-point lead at the half.
Duke City had better offensive success in the second half. They scored on the opening drive of the half with Davis' five-yard touchdown toss to Shelby. However, Tucson came back with a three-yard run from Jones. Davis found Xavier Amey for a 12-yard touchdown to pull the Gladiators to 42-20 and the end of the third quarter.
The Sugar Skulls increased the score to 48-20 early in the final quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Croft to Balentine. The Sugar Skulls lined up for the extra point, but it was blocked and scooped up by Ray Jones, Jr. to add two points to the Gladiators' tally. On their ensuing drive, they scored on a 10-yard pass from Davis to Elmore. Tucson came back with a one-yard touchdown screen pass to Jones. Duke City scored once more when Nate Davis tossed to the right side of the end zone to Dello Davis. The latter caught the ball with one hand while leaping and falling backwards against the dasher board.
Croft finished with five touchdown passes, while Jones rushed for a pair of touchdowns and caught another. For the Glasiators, Nate Davis finished also finished with five passing touchdowns, but also tossed three picks. Elmore led all receivers with three scoring grabs.
The teams will meet twice more in 2021, both at Tucson, on July 10 and August 14.
The Sugar Skulls have their season home opener on June 5 against the Iowa Barnstormers at 6:05 p.m. The Gladiators will visit the Frisco Fighters on June 5 at 5:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
5/30/21 --
RIO RANCHO, NM - The Tucson Sugar Skulls jumped out to a 35-6 halftime lead and never looked back as as they spoiled the Duke City Gladiators' Indoor Football League home opener tonight at Rio Rancho Events Center.
The Sugar Skulls intercepted Duke City quarterback three times in the first half and converted the turnovers into 21 points en route to the 55-35 win to improve to 1-1 on the IFL season.
Duke City was playing the game at Rio Rancho Events Center because their home arena, Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, is being used as a COVID-19 vaccination site. The team is expected to play at least their next two games in Rio Rancho. The Gladiators fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Tucson struck first with a 13-yard pass from Demry Croft to Kent Shelby. After Mike Minter's interception of Davis, the Sugar Skulls scored again on a one-yard run from Mike Jones. The Gladiators got on the board late in the first quarter with a four-yard pass from Davis to Jared Elmore. The Sugar Skulls held a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Sugar Skulls added to the lead with a three-yard pass from Croft to Ryan Balentine. Davis was intercepted on the next Gladiators' drive by Delondo Boyd and the Sugar Skulls capitalized with a six-yard run from Croft to go up 28-6 with 5:01 left in the second quarter. On the Gladiators' next possession, Cory Butler-Byrd intercepted Davis to give the Sugar Skulls the ball back. They responded with a nine-yard strike from Croft to Bowen with two seconds in the half, giving them a 28-point lead at the half.
Duke City had better offensive success in the second half. They scored on the opening drive of the half with Davis' five-yard touchdown toss to Shelby. However, Tucson came back with a three-yard run from Jones. Davis found Xavier Amey for a 12-yard touchdown to pull the Gladiators to 42-20 and the end of the third quarter.
The Sugar Skulls increased the score to 48-20 early in the final quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Croft to Balentine. The Sugar Skulls lined up for the extra point, but it was blocked and scooped up by Ray Jones, Jr. to add two points to the Gladiators' tally. On their ensuing drive, they scored on a 10-yard pass from Davis to Elmore. Tucson came back with a one-yard touchdown screen pass to Jones. Duke City scored once more when Nate Davis tossed to the right side of the end zone to Dello Davis. The latter caught the ball with one hand while leaping and falling backwards against the dasher board.
Croft finished with five touchdown passes, while Jones rushed for a pair of touchdowns and caught another. For the Glasiators, Nate Davis finished also finished with five passing touchdowns, but also tossed three picks. Elmore led all receivers with three scoring grabs.
The teams will meet twice more in 2021, both at Tucson, on July 10 and August 14.
The Sugar Skulls have their season home opener on June 5 against the Iowa Barnstormers at 6:05 p.m. The Gladiators will visit the Frisco Fighters on June 5 at 5:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. 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.
- ANM
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Graphic courtesy of David.