Post by Monika on Apr 3, 2023 20:02:13 GMT -8
Sugar Skulls 35, Strike Force 16
4/3/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - The Tucson Sugar Skulls ran out to a 28-3 halftime lead, then held off the San Diego Strike Force in the second half to secure the 35-16 win tonight at Pechanga Arena.
It was the season opener for the Sugar Skulls, who move to 1-0 on the early Indoor Football league season. The Strike Force, who lost their season opener to the Quad City Steamwheelers, fell to 0-2 with both losses coming at home. The teams play twice more this season; on April 22 and on June 17. Both games will be in Tucson.
Tucson scored on its opening drive on a one-yard run around the left guard. San Diego then turned the ball over on downs to give the Sugar Skulls the ball at the Strike Force 12. They capitalized on a one-yard scoring toss from Ramone Atkins to Darian Patterson. The Strike Force drove into Sugar Skulls territory, but turned over the ball on downs late in the opening quarter. Tucson led 14-0 at the end of the quarter.
San Diego's defense forced a Tucson turnover on downs at their own two. Tucson's Rashie Hodge picked off San Diego's Demry Croft and the Sugar Skulls capitalized on the turnover with a 28-yard touchdown bomb from Atkins to Carrington Thompson, Sr. with six minutes left in the second. The Strike Force got on the scoreboard courtesy of Aedan Johnson's 35-yard field goal. The Sugar Skulls answered with a 4 yard touchdown up the middle from Jones. The Strike Force once again turned over the ball on downs with eight seconds. The Sugar Skulls attempted a field goal, but Victor Leventritt's 49-yard attempt was short. Tucson led 28-3 at intermission.
The Strike Force had the ball to open the second half, but Aaron Aiken's pass was intercepted by J.J. Dallas of the Sugar Skulls, who were back in business at their own 14. However, Leventritt's 25-yard field goal try went wide left. San Diego drove the length of the field and scored on a 14-yard touchdown strike from Aiken to Kentrez Bell with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Sugar Skulls led 28-10 heading into the final quarter.
Tucson drove to the San Diego seven-yard line, but turned it over on downs thanks to the Strike Force's David Haney, who deflected Atkins' fourth-quarter pass in the end zone. The Strike Force scored on Aiken's six-yard run up the middle, but his pass for the two-point conversion was intercepted. Atkins' two-yard touchdown run put the Sugar Skulls up by 19 points with 5:30 remaining. With the Sugar Skulls only needing to take a knee to run out the clock inside of the one-minute warning, Atkins went for the end zone once again, but was intercepted by Haney. By that point, it was academic and the Strike Force were unable to add any points to their tally and the clock ran out on them.
Atkins finished 15 of 24 for 137 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a score. Mike Jones rushed 17 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Patterson and Thompson each had five catches for 57 and 52 yards, respectively, to go along with a touchdown apiece. Mike Minter was all over the field, leading the team with his team-leading 11 tackles. Trae'varis Ferrell added nine tackles and a half a sack.
Croft started, but struggled to get the Strike Force offense moving in the first half. He was replaced by Aiken who went 10 of 25 for 140 yards and a pick. He also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Marques Rodgers, who led the league in all-purpose yards in 2019 with San Diego, caught five passes for 86 yards, and Bell added five catches for 60 yards and a score. D.J. Morgan led the defense with nine tackles and Haney recorded an interception.
San Diego had the edge in total offense; 223 yards to 209. The Strike Force had the advantage in the passing game, 173 yards to 137. The Sugar Skulls outgained their hosts, 72 yards to 58, on the ground. The Strike Force were penalized seven times for 62 yards and the Sugar Skulls were flagged five times for 25 yards.
The Sugar Skulls are on the road to take on the Arizona Rattlers on April 8 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Strike Force visit the Vegas Knight Hawks on April 8 with kickoff set for 7:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
4/3/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - The Tucson Sugar Skulls ran out to a 28-3 halftime lead, then held off the San Diego Strike Force in the second half to secure the 35-16 win tonight at Pechanga Arena.
It was the season opener for the Sugar Skulls, who move to 1-0 on the early Indoor Football league season. The Strike Force, who lost their season opener to the Quad City Steamwheelers, fell to 0-2 with both losses coming at home. The teams play twice more this season; on April 22 and on June 17. Both games will be in Tucson.
Tucson scored on its opening drive on a one-yard run around the left guard. San Diego then turned the ball over on downs to give the Sugar Skulls the ball at the Strike Force 12. They capitalized on a one-yard scoring toss from Ramone Atkins to Darian Patterson. The Strike Force drove into Sugar Skulls territory, but turned over the ball on downs late in the opening quarter. Tucson led 14-0 at the end of the quarter.
San Diego's defense forced a Tucson turnover on downs at their own two. Tucson's Rashie Hodge picked off San Diego's Demry Croft and the Sugar Skulls capitalized on the turnover with a 28-yard touchdown bomb from Atkins to Carrington Thompson, Sr. with six minutes left in the second. The Strike Force got on the scoreboard courtesy of Aedan Johnson's 35-yard field goal. The Sugar Skulls answered with a 4 yard touchdown up the middle from Jones. The Strike Force once again turned over the ball on downs with eight seconds. The Sugar Skulls attempted a field goal, but Victor Leventritt's 49-yard attempt was short. Tucson led 28-3 at intermission.
The Strike Force had the ball to open the second half, but Aaron Aiken's pass was intercepted by J.J. Dallas of the Sugar Skulls, who were back in business at their own 14. However, Leventritt's 25-yard field goal try went wide left. San Diego drove the length of the field and scored on a 14-yard touchdown strike from Aiken to Kentrez Bell with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter. The Sugar Skulls led 28-10 heading into the final quarter.
Tucson drove to the San Diego seven-yard line, but turned it over on downs thanks to the Strike Force's David Haney, who deflected Atkins' fourth-quarter pass in the end zone. The Strike Force scored on Aiken's six-yard run up the middle, but his pass for the two-point conversion was intercepted. Atkins' two-yard touchdown run put the Sugar Skulls up by 19 points with 5:30 remaining. With the Sugar Skulls only needing to take a knee to run out the clock inside of the one-minute warning, Atkins went for the end zone once again, but was intercepted by Haney. By that point, it was academic and the Strike Force were unable to add any points to their tally and the clock ran out on them.
Atkins finished 15 of 24 for 137 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a score. Mike Jones rushed 17 times for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Patterson and Thompson each had five catches for 57 and 52 yards, respectively, to go along with a touchdown apiece. Mike Minter was all over the field, leading the team with his team-leading 11 tackles. Trae'varis Ferrell added nine tackles and a half a sack.
Croft started, but struggled to get the Strike Force offense moving in the first half. He was replaced by Aiken who went 10 of 25 for 140 yards and a pick. He also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Marques Rodgers, who led the league in all-purpose yards in 2019 with San Diego, caught five passes for 86 yards, and Bell added five catches for 60 yards and a score. D.J. Morgan led the defense with nine tackles and Haney recorded an interception.
San Diego had the edge in total offense; 223 yards to 209. The Strike Force had the advantage in the passing game, 173 yards to 137. The Sugar Skulls outgained their hosts, 72 yards to 58, on the ground. The Strike Force were penalized seven times for 62 yards and the Sugar Skulls were flagged five times for 25 yards.
The Sugar Skulls are on the road to take on the Arizona Rattlers on April 8 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Strike Force visit the Vegas Knight Hawks on April 8 with kickoff set for 7:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL 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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