Post by Monika on May 14, 2022 20:58:28 GMT -8
Wranglers 36, Sugar Skulls 21
5/14/22 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers opened up a 22-0 third quarter lead and never looked back as they defeated the Tucson Sugar Skulls for the second time in franchise history, 36-21, tonight at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Wranglers improved to 6-2 on the season, including a 4-0 mark at home. They remain one game out of first place in the Western Conference, right behind the Arizona Rattlers who are 7-1 after their home win over the Massachusetts Pirates tonight. Northern Arizona has now won three straight. The Sugar Skulls remain in third in the conference standings as they fell to 4-4.
Northern Arizona's lone win of their inaugural 2021 season came against Tucson; a 48-44 win on June 26, 2021. Tucson leads the overall series 3-2. The Sugar Skulls defeated the Wranglers earlier this season, 72-62, on April 23. The teams meet once more on May 28 at Tucson.
The Wranglers scored defensively when Sugar Skulls quarterback Gabriel Cunningham fumbled, recovered in the end zone and was touched by Tramond Lofton for safety. Northern Arizona scored on the next drive with an eight-yard pass from Kaleb Barker to Glen Gibbons to make the score 9-0 midway through the opening quarter.
The lead was still 9-0 heading into the second half when the Wranglers Israel Tucker took the opening kickoff 50 yards back for a touchdown. The Wranglers took their 22-0 lead when Barker found Gibbons for another nine-yard score. Tucson got on the board at the 6:18 mark of the third quarter on a six-yard run from Mike Jones. The Sugar Skulls moved to within one score as time ran out in the third on Jones' five-yard run.
Northern Arizona extended their lead to 29-14 early in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run from Barker. Jones once again provided the spark and cut the lead to eight on a six-yard run with 8:09 left in regulation. Barker hit Jerrime Neal for a four-yard score with two-and-a-half minutes left.
Barker finished eight of 15 for 83 yards with three scoring throws. He also rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Tucker finished with 32 yards off seven carries, while catching a pair of passes for 27 yards. Gibbons' two touchdowns came on his lone two catches of the game. Darin Hungerford recorded nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception for the defense, and Mercardo Anderson added tackles.
Cunningham was making his first start of the season in place of Daquan Neal, who was participating in a tryout with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He completed seven of 16 passes for 66 yards with an interception. Jones rushed 12 times for 38 yards and three touchdowns, and Carrington Thompson, Sr. had three catches for 41 yards. Bikembe Kearney led the defense with six tackles.
The Wranglers will host the Bay Area Panthers on May 21 at 6:05 p.m. The Sugar Skulls will visit the San Diego Strike Force on May 21 at 7:05 p.m. All times mentioned are pacific time. Click for our SCtoC Indoor Football League schedule.
5/14/22 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers opened up a 22-0 third quarter lead and never looked back as they defeated the Tucson Sugar Skulls for the second time in franchise history, 36-21, tonight at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Wranglers improved to 6-2 on the season, including a 4-0 mark at home. They remain one game out of first place in the Western Conference, right behind the Arizona Rattlers who are 7-1 after their home win over the Massachusetts Pirates tonight. Northern Arizona has now won three straight. The Sugar Skulls remain in third in the conference standings as they fell to 4-4.
Northern Arizona's lone win of their inaugural 2021 season came against Tucson; a 48-44 win on June 26, 2021. Tucson leads the overall series 3-2. The Sugar Skulls defeated the Wranglers earlier this season, 72-62, on April 23. The teams meet once more on May 28 at Tucson.
The Wranglers scored defensively when Sugar Skulls quarterback Gabriel Cunningham fumbled, recovered in the end zone and was touched by Tramond Lofton for safety. Northern Arizona scored on the next drive with an eight-yard pass from Kaleb Barker to Glen Gibbons to make the score 9-0 midway through the opening quarter.
The lead was still 9-0 heading into the second half when the Wranglers Israel Tucker took the opening kickoff 50 yards back for a touchdown. The Wranglers took their 22-0 lead when Barker found Gibbons for another nine-yard score. Tucson got on the board at the 6:18 mark of the third quarter on a six-yard run from Mike Jones. The Sugar Skulls moved to within one score as time ran out in the third on Jones' five-yard run.
Northern Arizona extended their lead to 29-14 early in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run from Barker. Jones once again provided the spark and cut the lead to eight on a six-yard run with 8:09 left in regulation. Barker hit Jerrime Neal for a four-yard score with two-and-a-half minutes left.
Barker finished eight of 15 for 83 yards with three scoring throws. He also rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Tucker finished with 32 yards off seven carries, while catching a pair of passes for 27 yards. Gibbons' two touchdowns came on his lone two catches of the game. Darin Hungerford recorded nine tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception for the defense, and Mercardo Anderson added tackles.
Cunningham was making his first start of the season in place of Daquan Neal, who was participating in a tryout with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He completed seven of 16 passes for 66 yards with an interception. Jones rushed 12 times for 38 yards and three touchdowns, and Carrington Thompson, Sr. had three catches for 41 yards. Bikembe Kearney led the defense with six tackles.
The Wranglers will host the Bay Area Panthers on May 21 at 6:05 p.m. The Sugar Skulls will visit the San Diego Strike Force on May 21 at 7:05 p.m. All times mentioned are pacific time. Click for our SCtoC 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.
- MMM
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