Post by DiamondThief on May 18, 2024 21:15:11 GMT -8
Sugar Skulls 51, Knight Hawks 50 - OT
5/18/24 --
TUCSON, AZ - It took overtime and a gutsy two-point conversion run from Mr. Sugar Skull Mike Jones, but the Tucson Sugar Skulls had just enough to deal the Vegas Knight Hawks their first loss of the season tonight at Tucson Convention Center.
Jones' two-yard touchdown, coupled with his two-point conversion run, gave the Sugar Skulls the 51-50 overtime win to move to 2-5 on the season and earn their first win at home. The Knight Hawks fall to 7-1 on the season. They also fell into a tie with the Bay Area Panthers for first place in the Western Conference. The Panthers cruised to 68-52 win over the Arizona Rattlers tonight in a game which ran simultaneously to this one.
These teams play once more this season; July 20 at Henderson, Nevada. With the win, the Sugar Skulls now lead the overall series 4-1 including marks of 2-1 at home and 2-0 at Vegas.
Jones has been with the Sugar Sugar Skulls since the team's inaugural 2019 season.
The Sugar Skulls struck first on Mylik Mitchell's 47-yard touchdown toss to Brian Smith just over five minutes into the contest, but Dimitri Fotinos' point-after try failed. The Knight Hawks came right back when Ja'Rome Johnson took it in from four yards away. Fotinos nailed a 27-yard field goal to give Tucson a two-point lead with a little over four minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Knight Hawks retook the lead when Johnson hit CJ Windham for a four-yard score late in the quarter. Vegas led 14-9 at the end of one.
The Sugar Skulls took a 16-14 lead early in the second when Mitchell ran it in from five yards out. His counterpart in Johnson rushed for a one-yard score before Mitchell rushed for another one-yarder. Johnson found Antonio Wimbush for a nine-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half. Mitchell threw across his body to find Smith in the left side of the end zone. The run for the two-point conversion from Mike Carrigan was fumbled, setting up an ensuing kickoff with eight seconds remaining. Kevin Macias lined up for a 29-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but the try was no good and Tucson led 29-28 at intermission.
With the Sugar Skulls driving into Knight Hawks territory, James Ceasar intercepted Mitchell to set up the Vegas offense. The Knight Hawks responded midway through the quarter on a four-yard touchdown run from Antonio Wimbush. Vegas held a 35-29 lead at the end of the third with Tucson driving in Vegas territory.
The Sugar Skulls didn't disappoint the home crowd as Jones barreled in from five yards away. Fotinos' point after made it 36-35 at the 13:13 mark. Jorge Reyna came in for Johnson on the following drive and led the Knight Hawks down to the two-yard line, where he powered in on the ground for the score. No information was immediately released whether Johnson had suffered an injury. Reyna hit Holley across the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion and the lead was seven. MJ Harris returned the pop-up kickoff for the Sugar Skulls touchdown and the game was once again tied. Tucson got a stop on defense when Macias missed a 50-yard field goal try just over the one-minute warning.
The Sugar Skulls started deep in their own territory and on first down, Mitchell was called for intentional grounding while in the end zone. However, after Tucson head coach Billy Back called for a review, the Knight Hawks were called for illegal contact on the play which gave the Sugar Skulls a first down at their own 13-yard line. They attempted a 49-yard field goal from Fotinos, but it was well short, bringing on overtime.
Tucson won the coin toss and deferred, giving Vegas the ball first. They scored on a two-yard run from Reyna in the first possession. The Sugar Skulls scored on a two-yard run up the middle from Jones. Back elected to go for the win, and it was Jones' rush around the right side for the conversion and the win.
Mitchell finished eight of 17 for 130 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while he also rushed for 37 yards and two scores. Smith has emerged as a top receiver in the Tucson offense. He caught three passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Robert Sheffeld tallied seven tackles and Ahmad Lyons had an interception. Jaylen Parks and D'jimon Brooks each had a sack.
Johnson completed eight of 15 passes for 70 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 25 yards and two scores, while Wimbush led the rushing attack with 29 yards and a score. He also was the team's top receiver with five grabs for 58 yards and a score. Caleb Holley added five catches for 45 yards. Ceasar and Gabe McCoy led the Vegas defense with 4.5 tackles, and Bryce Hampton had a pick.
The Sugar Skulls gained 219 yards to the Knight Hawks' 203. The main difference came in the passing game with a 14-yard advantage. Twenty penalties were accepted through the course of the game. Vegas was dinged 11 times for 69 yards and Tucson was cited nine times for 41 yards.
The Sugar Skulls will visit in-state rival Northern Arizona Wranglers on May 25 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. After a bye next week, the Knight Hawks will host the Wranglers on June 1 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.
5/18/24 --
TUCSON, AZ - It took overtime and a gutsy two-point conversion run from Mr. Sugar Skull Mike Jones, but the Tucson Sugar Skulls had just enough to deal the Vegas Knight Hawks their first loss of the season tonight at Tucson Convention Center.
Jones' two-yard touchdown, coupled with his two-point conversion run, gave the Sugar Skulls the 51-50 overtime win to move to 2-5 on the season and earn their first win at home. The Knight Hawks fall to 7-1 on the season. They also fell into a tie with the Bay Area Panthers for first place in the Western Conference. The Panthers cruised to 68-52 win over the Arizona Rattlers tonight in a game which ran simultaneously to this one.
These teams play once more this season; July 20 at Henderson, Nevada. With the win, the Sugar Skulls now lead the overall series 4-1 including marks of 2-1 at home and 2-0 at Vegas.
Jones has been with the Sugar Sugar Skulls since the team's inaugural 2019 season.
The Sugar Skulls struck first on Mylik Mitchell's 47-yard touchdown toss to Brian Smith just over five minutes into the contest, but Dimitri Fotinos' point-after try failed. The Knight Hawks came right back when Ja'Rome Johnson took it in from four yards away. Fotinos nailed a 27-yard field goal to give Tucson a two-point lead with a little over four minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Knight Hawks retook the lead when Johnson hit CJ Windham for a four-yard score late in the quarter. Vegas led 14-9 at the end of one.
The Sugar Skulls took a 16-14 lead early in the second when Mitchell ran it in from five yards out. His counterpart in Johnson rushed for a one-yard score before Mitchell rushed for another one-yarder. Johnson found Antonio Wimbush for a nine-yard touchdown with 21 seconds left in the half. Mitchell threw across his body to find Smith in the left side of the end zone. The run for the two-point conversion from Mike Carrigan was fumbled, setting up an ensuing kickoff with eight seconds remaining. Kevin Macias lined up for a 29-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but the try was no good and Tucson led 29-28 at intermission.
With the Sugar Skulls driving into Knight Hawks territory, James Ceasar intercepted Mitchell to set up the Vegas offense. The Knight Hawks responded midway through the quarter on a four-yard touchdown run from Antonio Wimbush. Vegas held a 35-29 lead at the end of the third with Tucson driving in Vegas territory.
The Sugar Skulls didn't disappoint the home crowd as Jones barreled in from five yards away. Fotinos' point after made it 36-35 at the 13:13 mark. Jorge Reyna came in for Johnson on the following drive and led the Knight Hawks down to the two-yard line, where he powered in on the ground for the score. No information was immediately released whether Johnson had suffered an injury. Reyna hit Holley across the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion and the lead was seven. MJ Harris returned the pop-up kickoff for the Sugar Skulls touchdown and the game was once again tied. Tucson got a stop on defense when Macias missed a 50-yard field goal try just over the one-minute warning.
The Sugar Skulls started deep in their own territory and on first down, Mitchell was called for intentional grounding while in the end zone. However, after Tucson head coach Billy Back called for a review, the Knight Hawks were called for illegal contact on the play which gave the Sugar Skulls a first down at their own 13-yard line. They attempted a 49-yard field goal from Fotinos, but it was well short, bringing on overtime.
Tucson won the coin toss and deferred, giving Vegas the ball first. They scored on a two-yard run from Reyna in the first possession. The Sugar Skulls scored on a two-yard run up the middle from Jones. Back elected to go for the win, and it was Jones' rush around the right side for the conversion and the win.
Mitchell finished eight of 17 for 130 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while he also rushed for 37 yards and two scores. Smith has emerged as a top receiver in the Tucson offense. He caught three passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Robert Sheffeld tallied seven tackles and Ahmad Lyons had an interception. Jaylen Parks and D'jimon Brooks each had a sack.
Johnson completed eight of 15 passes for 70 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 25 yards and two scores, while Wimbush led the rushing attack with 29 yards and a score. He also was the team's top receiver with five grabs for 58 yards and a score. Caleb Holley added five catches for 45 yards. Ceasar and Gabe McCoy led the Vegas defense with 4.5 tackles, and Bryce Hampton had a pick.
The Sugar Skulls gained 219 yards to the Knight Hawks' 203. The main difference came in the passing game with a 14-yard advantage. Twenty penalties were accepted through the course of the game. Vegas was dinged 11 times for 69 yards and Tucson was cited nine times for 41 yards.
The Sugar Skulls will visit in-state rival Northern Arizona Wranglers on May 25 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. After a bye next week, the Knight Hawks will host the Wranglers on June 1 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.
-ANM
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