Post by alecs on May 25, 2024 20:42:24 GMT -8
Wranglers 60, Sugar Skulls 53
5/25/24 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ -
The Tucson Sugar Skulls and Northern Arizona Wranglers installed a memorable new chapter in their ever-building rivalry on Saturday night at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The Wranglers sought to complete the three-game series sweep over their in-state opponents, a task that Tucson made particularly challenging late in the game. With a last-minute touchdown rush by quarterback Josh Jones, the Wranglers staved off a spirited comeback bid and defeated the Sugar Skulls, 60-53.
Tucson got the opening kickoff but were forced into a three-and-out by the Wrangler defense. The ensuing 55-yard field goal attempt by Demitri Fotinos sailed wide left to end that possession. A few plays later, the Wranglers got a big play to open the scoring on a 34-yard pass from Josh Jones to John Maldonado. The Sugar Skulls were unable to respond with a touchdown, but did get a successful 40-yard field goal out of Fotinos to get them on the board. The small moral victory was short-lived, though, as an immediate 36-yard pass from Jones to Gene Coleman II, along with a successful two-point drop kick by Axel Perez, pushed the lead up to 12 points. The Sugar Skulls did find some momentum to end the quarter, with Mylik Mitchell finding Devonte Sapp-Lynch for an 18-yard touchdown pass. After a failed PAT, the score after one quarter was 15 to nine, in favor of the home Wranglers.
The Sugar Skull defense would be victimized by the deep ball for a third time, with Jones going to RZ McCorker this time for a 42-yard touchdown toss. The Wrangler defense came up large shortly after, with Travion Banks intercepting a pass from Mitchell for the game's first takeaway. Not long later, Jones would find his fourth different receiver for a touchdown, hurling a 20-yard pass to Tosin Oyekanmi to build up a 20-point advantage. A lengthy Sugar Skulls possession would follow, and wound up resulting in a Mike Jones nine-yard touchdown run. Jones would continue his hot first-half, finding his fifth passing touchdown of the with a four-yarder to Kobay White. With less than a minute left in the half, Tucson would trim into the lead with a four-yard rushing score from Mitchell. But it would be the Wranglers with the last laugh, as Jones found Maldonado on an 18-yard pass right before the end of the half. Already tallying his sixth touchdown pass of the game, Jones' efforts propelled the Wranglers to a commanding 44-23 lead at the break.
Staring at a 21-point hole and on defense to start the second half, the Sugar Skulls were able to force a three-and-out on Northern Arizona's first possession, and a stop on fourth down gave them terrific field position inside Wrangler territory. Riding the newfound momentum, Mitchell's three-yard touchdown run brought Tucson back to within 15 points. Another terrific effort from the Skulls' defense would follow, forcing the Wranglers into a 28-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked resulting in another empty possession. Tucson would follow that stellar defense up with a home run on offense, with Mike Carrigan making the catch on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell, and quite suddenly the Wrangler lead was cut to just seven points. After nearly a full quarter of play, the Wranglers found points on offense, coming from a 29-yard field goal by Perez. At the end of three, the Wranglers remained ahead by ten points but assuredly in less comfortable position.
As Mitchell rushed in a seven-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter, the Skulls got themselves back to a one-score game, trailing by a count of 47-44 after that run. Another Wrangler three-and-out led to another fourth down stop by Tucson's defense. That sequence gave the Skulls an opportunity at their first lead of the ballgame, but the Northern Arizona defense stood strong, forcing a fumble by Mitchell, which was picked up by Mason Newton giving the ball back to the Wranglers. It took just two plays for the Wranglers to distance themselves once more, with a 43-yard pass from Jones to Coleman II building the cushion to nine points. Tucson would construct a drawn-out scoring drive in response, with a two-yard rush by Mitchell bringing the visitors back within two points. On the ensuing kickoff, Fotinos successfully nailed a deuce to tie the game at 53 all. With the pressure of Tucson's comeback bid mounting ever larger, the Wranglers put together a drive taking the game inside the one-minute warning. On a second-and-goal, Jones took a one-yard keeper in for the go-ahead score to put Northern Arizona ahead by seven. There remained enough time for Mitchell to orchestrate a game-tying or game-winning drive, but the dream sequence met an abrupt halt when his pass found the clutches of Banks for a second time in the ballgame. With the interception, Northern Arizona was able to kneel it out and preserve the 60-53 win.
In the win, Josh Jones was surgical, particularly on his deep throws. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 248 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions. He added eight rushes for 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Five different Wranglers caught touchdowns tonight, with notable performances out of Gene Coleman II (4/86/2) and John Maldonado (4/71/2). Defensively, Gurvan Hall, Jr. led Northern Arizona with six tackles, and Travion Banks secured a pair of interceptions, including the one to seal the game on Tucson's final possession.
Mylik Mitchell again flexed his elite dual-threat ability despite the loss. He connected on 16 of his 25 pass attempts for 206 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed 12 times for 54 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Sugar Skulls in rushing. Mike Jones rushed six times for 13 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 21 yards. Mike Carrigan eclipsed the century mark, with seven catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Three Tucson defensive players co-led the team with 3.5 tackles each, headlined by K.J. Milner, who also logged half a sack (the other of which was credited to Jaylen Parks).
Both teams moved the ball at will offensively, with Northern Arizona slightly outgaining Tucson 297-286 tonight. The Wranglers kept a clean sheet with zero turnovers, while the Skulls were beset by three giveaways, all by Mitchell (two INT, one fumble lost). Tucson drew the attention of the officials with seven penalties for 85 yards, whereas Northern Arizona was called just three times for 20 yards.
The Wranglers finalize a three-game season series sweep over the Sugar Skulls with tonight's win, after the previous two meetings ended 54-48 (March 30th) and 34-31 (April 27th) in their favor. Barring any potential postseason encounter, this will be the final game in this rivalry for 2024. For the all-time record, Northern Arizona now leads eight games to four.
The Wranglers (6-3) and Sugar Skulls (2-6) both take the field on Saturday June 1, with each game set for kickoff at 6:05 p.m. The Wranglers will visit the Vegas Knight Hawks (7-1), while the Sugar Skulls will host the Duke City Gladiators (0-8). 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.
5/25/24 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ -
The Tucson Sugar Skulls and Northern Arizona Wranglers installed a memorable new chapter in their ever-building rivalry on Saturday night at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The Wranglers sought to complete the three-game series sweep over their in-state opponents, a task that Tucson made particularly challenging late in the game. With a last-minute touchdown rush by quarterback Josh Jones, the Wranglers staved off a spirited comeback bid and defeated the Sugar Skulls, 60-53.
Tucson got the opening kickoff but were forced into a three-and-out by the Wrangler defense. The ensuing 55-yard field goal attempt by Demitri Fotinos sailed wide left to end that possession. A few plays later, the Wranglers got a big play to open the scoring on a 34-yard pass from Josh Jones to John Maldonado. The Sugar Skulls were unable to respond with a touchdown, but did get a successful 40-yard field goal out of Fotinos to get them on the board. The small moral victory was short-lived, though, as an immediate 36-yard pass from Jones to Gene Coleman II, along with a successful two-point drop kick by Axel Perez, pushed the lead up to 12 points. The Sugar Skulls did find some momentum to end the quarter, with Mylik Mitchell finding Devonte Sapp-Lynch for an 18-yard touchdown pass. After a failed PAT, the score after one quarter was 15 to nine, in favor of the home Wranglers.
The Sugar Skull defense would be victimized by the deep ball for a third time, with Jones going to RZ McCorker this time for a 42-yard touchdown toss. The Wrangler defense came up large shortly after, with Travion Banks intercepting a pass from Mitchell for the game's first takeaway. Not long later, Jones would find his fourth different receiver for a touchdown, hurling a 20-yard pass to Tosin Oyekanmi to build up a 20-point advantage. A lengthy Sugar Skulls possession would follow, and wound up resulting in a Mike Jones nine-yard touchdown run. Jones would continue his hot first-half, finding his fifth passing touchdown of the with a four-yarder to Kobay White. With less than a minute left in the half, Tucson would trim into the lead with a four-yard rushing score from Mitchell. But it would be the Wranglers with the last laugh, as Jones found Maldonado on an 18-yard pass right before the end of the half. Already tallying his sixth touchdown pass of the game, Jones' efforts propelled the Wranglers to a commanding 44-23 lead at the break.
Staring at a 21-point hole and on defense to start the second half, the Sugar Skulls were able to force a three-and-out on Northern Arizona's first possession, and a stop on fourth down gave them terrific field position inside Wrangler territory. Riding the newfound momentum, Mitchell's three-yard touchdown run brought Tucson back to within 15 points. Another terrific effort from the Skulls' defense would follow, forcing the Wranglers into a 28-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked resulting in another empty possession. Tucson would follow that stellar defense up with a home run on offense, with Mike Carrigan making the catch on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell, and quite suddenly the Wrangler lead was cut to just seven points. After nearly a full quarter of play, the Wranglers found points on offense, coming from a 29-yard field goal by Perez. At the end of three, the Wranglers remained ahead by ten points but assuredly in less comfortable position.
As Mitchell rushed in a seven-yard touchdown to start the fourth quarter, the Skulls got themselves back to a one-score game, trailing by a count of 47-44 after that run. Another Wrangler three-and-out led to another fourth down stop by Tucson's defense. That sequence gave the Skulls an opportunity at their first lead of the ballgame, but the Northern Arizona defense stood strong, forcing a fumble by Mitchell, which was picked up by Mason Newton giving the ball back to the Wranglers. It took just two plays for the Wranglers to distance themselves once more, with a 43-yard pass from Jones to Coleman II building the cushion to nine points. Tucson would construct a drawn-out scoring drive in response, with a two-yard rush by Mitchell bringing the visitors back within two points. On the ensuing kickoff, Fotinos successfully nailed a deuce to tie the game at 53 all. With the pressure of Tucson's comeback bid mounting ever larger, the Wranglers put together a drive taking the game inside the one-minute warning. On a second-and-goal, Jones took a one-yard keeper in for the go-ahead score to put Northern Arizona ahead by seven. There remained enough time for Mitchell to orchestrate a game-tying or game-winning drive, but the dream sequence met an abrupt halt when his pass found the clutches of Banks for a second time in the ballgame. With the interception, Northern Arizona was able to kneel it out and preserve the 60-53 win.
In the win, Josh Jones was surgical, particularly on his deep throws. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 248 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions. He added eight rushes for 21 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Five different Wranglers caught touchdowns tonight, with notable performances out of Gene Coleman II (4/86/2) and John Maldonado (4/71/2). Defensively, Gurvan Hall, Jr. led Northern Arizona with six tackles, and Travion Banks secured a pair of interceptions, including the one to seal the game on Tucson's final possession.
Mylik Mitchell again flexed his elite dual-threat ability despite the loss. He connected on 16 of his 25 pass attempts for 206 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He rushed 12 times for 54 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Sugar Skulls in rushing. Mike Jones rushed six times for 13 yards and a touchdown and added two catches for 21 yards. Mike Carrigan eclipsed the century mark, with seven catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Three Tucson defensive players co-led the team with 3.5 tackles each, headlined by K.J. Milner, who also logged half a sack (the other of which was credited to Jaylen Parks).
Both teams moved the ball at will offensively, with Northern Arizona slightly outgaining Tucson 297-286 tonight. The Wranglers kept a clean sheet with zero turnovers, while the Skulls were beset by three giveaways, all by Mitchell (two INT, one fumble lost). Tucson drew the attention of the officials with seven penalties for 85 yards, whereas Northern Arizona was called just three times for 20 yards.
The Wranglers finalize a three-game season series sweep over the Sugar Skulls with tonight's win, after the previous two meetings ended 54-48 (March 30th) and 34-31 (April 27th) in their favor. Barring any potential postseason encounter, this will be the final game in this rivalry for 2024. For the all-time record, Northern Arizona now leads eight games to four.
The Wranglers (6-3) and Sugar Skulls (2-6) both take the field on Saturday June 1, with each game set for kickoff at 6:05 p.m. The Wranglers will visit the Vegas Knight Hawks (7-1), while the Sugar Skulls will host the Duke City Gladiators (0-8). 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.
-AS