Post by Monika on Jul 23, 2023 17:35:02 GMT -8
Panthers 46, Sugar Skulls 34
7/23/23 --
SAN JOSE, CA - The Bay Area Panthers started quickly and never relented as they earned a trip to the Western Conference Championship Game with a 46-34 win over the visiting Tucson Sugar Skulls this afternoon at SAP Center.
The Panthers, with the win, will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers next week with a ticket to the IFL National Championship in Henderson, Nevada on August 5 on the line. The Wranglers upset the Arizona Rattlers last night in the other Western Conference Semifinal, 62-53, at Phoenix. The Panthers and Wranglers played twice this season with each team winning inside its home arena.
Next week's conference championship game will be held at SAP Center. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. (pacific time) on Saturday, July 27
The Sugar Skulls' season ends at 9-7 including the playoffs. They were the third seed in the playoffs from the conference and were making their third appearance in four seasons in the league. They split the series with the Panthers during the regular season with each team winning in the other's building. Tucson still holds a 3-2 lead in the overall series.
With the Sugar Skulls driving in Panthers territory, Wes Bowers applied pressure on Tucson quarterback Ramone Atkins, who fumbled the ball. The fumble was picked up and run back 45 yards by Tevaughn Grant to give Bay Area the early lead. After a turnover on downs by the Sugar Skulls, The Panthers strick right back with a 10-yard scoring run around the left side and the Panthers were up by two scores with just over five minutes left in the first. Tucson was forced to try a 54-yard field goal from michael Hall, but it was missed and was returned by Cutrell Haywood to the Sugar Skulls eight. The Panthers took advantage when Dalton Sneed found Nih-jer Jackson in the back of the end zone to go up three scores. They tacked on a rouge on the ensuing kickoff and led 22-0 at the end of the first.
Tucson had some better results in the second quarter. The Sugar Skulls got on the board on a one-yard run up the middle from Atkins five minutes into the quarter. They forced a Panthers' turnover on downs and took over at their own eight-yard line with 3:32 remaining. Atkins' one-yard plunge with 35 seconds in the half pulled the Sugar Skulls to within nine points. Marquise Bridges returned the following kickoff 35 yards to the house to put the Panthers back up by 16. Hall tried a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half, but it sailed wide right. Bay Area took a 29-13 lead into the break.
The Panthers extended their lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Sneed scrambled out of the pocket on the left side and flipped the ball to Jackson who ran it in for the 11-yard score. The Sugar Skulls countered with five minutes remaining when Atkins found Carrington Thompson, Sr. wide open in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. Craig Peterson tackled on a 28-yard field goal to put Bay Area up three scores late in the third quarter. The Panthers led 39-20 heading into the fourth.
Tucson wasn't done. Atkins hit Thompson for the second time in the right side of the end zone. The Panthers tried a 39-yard field goal, but Peterson's kick went wide to the right giving the Sugar Skulls the ball with 9:42 remaining. They drove down and scored on a four-yard touchdown toss from Atkins to Thompson in the right corner of the end zone. The Panthers led 39-34 with 3:39 remaining. The Panthers all but iced the win on Justin Rankin's three-yard run behind the right guard. The Sugar Skulls had one last opportunity, but were unable to generate the necessary drive to complete the comeback.
Sneed finished five of eight for 43 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 36 yards on eight carries. Rankin rushed 11 times for 53 yards and two scores. Jackson's two touchdowns came on his only two receptions of the contest. Antwon Kincade led the Panthers defense with 12 tackles, and Bowers had 9.5 takedowns. Grant added a sack to his fumble return for touchdown.
Atkins, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year while with the Duke City Gladiators, went 17 of 30 for 90 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. He rushed 18 times for 94 yards and a pair of scores. Mike Jones carried the ball 10 times for 59 yards. Rashie Hodge and Zachary Blackiston each tallied 4.5 tackles to pace the Sugar Skulls defense.
Tucson had a decided edge of 262-yards to 132 for Bay Area. That included a 89-yard advantage in rushing yards and a 41-yard edge in rushing yards. The Panthers were flagged four times for 35 yards, while the Sugar Skulls were penalized for three times for 34 yards.
The Eastern Conference Championship is set. The top-seeded Frisco Fighters will host the second-seeded Sioux Falls Storm on July 19. The Fighters defeated the Quad City Steamwheelers, 57-29, and the Storm rallied to defeat the Massachusetts Pirates, 42-39. Both first round games were completed on July 22.
Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule. Next week's conference championship games will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those in the board of the home team in each game.
7/23/23 --
SAN JOSE, CA - The Bay Area Panthers started quickly and never relented as they earned a trip to the Western Conference Championship Game with a 46-34 win over the visiting Tucson Sugar Skulls this afternoon at SAP Center.
The Panthers, with the win, will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers next week with a ticket to the IFL National Championship in Henderson, Nevada on August 5 on the line. The Wranglers upset the Arizona Rattlers last night in the other Western Conference Semifinal, 62-53, at Phoenix. The Panthers and Wranglers played twice this season with each team winning inside its home arena.
Next week's conference championship game will be held at SAP Center. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. (pacific time) on Saturday, July 27
The Sugar Skulls' season ends at 9-7 including the playoffs. They were the third seed in the playoffs from the conference and were making their third appearance in four seasons in the league. They split the series with the Panthers during the regular season with each team winning in the other's building. Tucson still holds a 3-2 lead in the overall series.
With the Sugar Skulls driving in Panthers territory, Wes Bowers applied pressure on Tucson quarterback Ramone Atkins, who fumbled the ball. The fumble was picked up and run back 45 yards by Tevaughn Grant to give Bay Area the early lead. After a turnover on downs by the Sugar Skulls, The Panthers strick right back with a 10-yard scoring run around the left side and the Panthers were up by two scores with just over five minutes left in the first. Tucson was forced to try a 54-yard field goal from michael Hall, but it was missed and was returned by Cutrell Haywood to the Sugar Skulls eight. The Panthers took advantage when Dalton Sneed found Nih-jer Jackson in the back of the end zone to go up three scores. They tacked on a rouge on the ensuing kickoff and led 22-0 at the end of the first.
Tucson had some better results in the second quarter. The Sugar Skulls got on the board on a one-yard run up the middle from Atkins five minutes into the quarter. They forced a Panthers' turnover on downs and took over at their own eight-yard line with 3:32 remaining. Atkins' one-yard plunge with 35 seconds in the half pulled the Sugar Skulls to within nine points. Marquise Bridges returned the following kickoff 35 yards to the house to put the Panthers back up by 16. Hall tried a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the half, but it sailed wide right. Bay Area took a 29-13 lead into the break.
The Panthers extended their lead on the first possession of the third quarter. Sneed scrambled out of the pocket on the left side and flipped the ball to Jackson who ran it in for the 11-yard score. The Sugar Skulls countered with five minutes remaining when Atkins found Carrington Thompson, Sr. wide open in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. Craig Peterson tackled on a 28-yard field goal to put Bay Area up three scores late in the third quarter. The Panthers led 39-20 heading into the fourth.
Tucson wasn't done. Atkins hit Thompson for the second time in the right side of the end zone. The Panthers tried a 39-yard field goal, but Peterson's kick went wide to the right giving the Sugar Skulls the ball with 9:42 remaining. They drove down and scored on a four-yard touchdown toss from Atkins to Thompson in the right corner of the end zone. The Panthers led 39-34 with 3:39 remaining. The Panthers all but iced the win on Justin Rankin's three-yard run behind the right guard. The Sugar Skulls had one last opportunity, but were unable to generate the necessary drive to complete the comeback.
Sneed finished five of eight for 43 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 36 yards on eight carries. Rankin rushed 11 times for 53 yards and two scores. Jackson's two touchdowns came on his only two receptions of the contest. Antwon Kincade led the Panthers defense with 12 tackles, and Bowers had 9.5 takedowns. Grant added a sack to his fumble return for touchdown.
Atkins, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year while with the Duke City Gladiators, went 17 of 30 for 90 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. He rushed 18 times for 94 yards and a pair of scores. Mike Jones carried the ball 10 times for 59 yards. Rashie Hodge and Zachary Blackiston each tallied 4.5 tackles to pace the Sugar Skulls defense.
Tucson had a decided edge of 262-yards to 132 for Bay Area. That included a 89-yard advantage in rushing yards and a 41-yard edge in rushing yards. The Panthers were flagged four times for 35 yards, while the Sugar Skulls were penalized for three times for 34 yards.
The Eastern Conference Championship is set. The top-seeded Frisco Fighters will host the second-seeded Sioux Falls Storm on July 19. The Fighters defeated the Quad City Steamwheelers, 57-29, and the Storm rallied to defeat the Massachusetts Pirates, 42-39. Both first round games were completed on July 22.
Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule. Next week's conference championship games will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. SCtoC will present previews of those in the board of the home team in each game.
- MMM
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