Photo: John Maldonado is congratulated by Arsiah McCorker on the first of his two touchdown receptions
The Northern Arizona Wranglers took their “show” on the road for the first time this season with a 57-50 win over the San Antonio Gunslingers in San Antonio. The Wranglers had a big lead but a pair of late touchdowns by the home team made it look much closer in the end.
The Gunslingers took the opening kickoff and went right down the field to score on a Sam Castronova 12 yard pass to Nyquan Murray. TJ Stevens added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
The Wranglers tied the game at seven as quarterback Joshua Jones faked a handoff to Justin Manyweather going to his left, and Jones ran it in from 6 yards out to the right. Northern Arizona took nine plays to go 45 yards for the score. The Wranglers converted a fourth and two, and then needed a successful coaches challenge on an illegal blitz to keep the drive going.
The Wranglers defense came up with a big stop as the Gunslingers failed to score running four plays inside the Northern Arizona five yard line.
San Antonio took the lead once again when the Wranglers gave the Gunslingers a gift as a bad snap got away from Jones into the end zone was recovered by Zack Brown for the TD.
Jones scrambled and connected on a long pass of 29 yards to John Maldonado in the end zone to tie the game at 14.
Wallace Collins came up with a fumble to get the ball back for the Wranglers at their own 14 yard line. Jones would find Maldonado again on a 16 yard TD reception. Axel Perez tried a drop kick for two points but missed leaving the Wranglers with a 20-14 lead.
San Antonio took the lead back on just two plays as Castonova hit Rashad on a 26 yard pass play.
David Elder scampered 15 yards for the TD with just over a minute to play in the first half. Perez added the traditional extra point and Northern Arizona led 27-21. After the kickoff went out of the end zone, two penalties on the Wranglers set up the Gunslingers at the NAZ 12 yard line. The tide would change quickly as defensive back Travion Banks snagged an interception at the goal line to save the day. The ball was placed at the five yard line as the Wranglers looked to build on their six point lead. A personal foul moved the ball to the 23 with a half of minute left in the first half. Jones hit RC McCorker in the end zone. Perez added two with a successful drop kick for a 35-21 lead with :24 left. A block in the back penalty on San Antonio placed the ball back at their own 7 yard line with just :17 remaining. The Wranglers knocked down a desperation pass into the end zone to close out the first half with a 35-21 lead.
Northern Arizona received the second half kickoff. Stevens belted a deuce through the uprights for two points for the Gunslingers. The Wranglers offense took over with a lead of 35-23.
Jones kept the ball and scored on a 13 yard run. Perez added another drop kick for a 43-23 lead. On the first of two back to back 27 yard touchdown passes from Sam Castronova to Nyquan Murray came at the end of the third and at the beginning of the fourth quarters.
The Wranglers scored their final touchdown with just over minutes remaining. Arsiah McCorker ran the ball in from 16 yards out.
San Antonio scored the final two touchdowns with their final one coming on the last play of the game.
Joshua Jones once again played error free football for the Wranglers as he completed 11-13 for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Jones would also rush for 38 yards and two TDs. David Elder rushed for 47 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. John Maldonado caught four passes for 56 yards and two scores and Arsiah McCorker caught three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown and rushed for one more.
Shannon Reid had eight tackles, including two sacks for Northern Arizona and Wallace Cowins had six tackles with one sack. Travion Banks had the only interception and was huge for the defense with four pass breakups.
Sam Castronova threw five touchdown passes for San Antonio as he went 12-21-1 with 195 yards.
The Wranglers improve to (2-1) and will host the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday April 20 at 6:05 pm. San Antonio drops to (0-2).
NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 57, SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 50
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Northern Arizona 7 28 16 6 – 57
San Antonio 7 14 9 20 – 50
Scoring Summary
SA-Murray 12 yard pass from Castronova (Stevens kick)
NAZ-Jones 6 yard run (Perez kick)
SA-Brown fumble recovery (Stevens kick)
NAZ-Maldonado 29 yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)
NAZ-Maldonado 16 yard pass from Jones (Kick failed)
SA-Rashad 29 yard pass from Castronova (Stevens kick)
NAZ-Elder 8 yard run (Perez kick)
NAZ-McCorker 14 yard pass from Jones (Perez drop kick)
SA-Stevens rouge
NAZ-Jones 13 yard run (Perez drop kick)
NAZ- Manyweather 4 yard run (Perez drop kick)
SA-Murray 27 yard pass from Castronova (Stevens kick)
SA-Murray 27 yard pass from Castronova (Stevens kick)
NAZ-McCorker 16 yard run (Kick failed)
SA-Castronova 1 yard run (Pass failed)
SA-Rasheed 14 yard pass from Castronova (Stevens kick)
ATT:N/A
IFL STANDINGS
Western Conference W-L
Bay Area 2-0
San Diego 2-0
Vegas 2-0
WRANGLERS 2-1
Tucson 1-1
Arizona 1-2
San Antonio 0-2
Duke City 0-3
Eastern W-L
Massachusetts 3-0
Frisco 2-0
Green Bay 2-1
Quad City 1-1
Tulsa 1-1
Iowa 0-2
Sioux Falls 0-2
Jacksonville 0-3
SCOREBOARD
Northern Arizona 57, San Antonio 50
Bay Area 48, Jacksonville 24
Tucson 56, Duke City 49
Green Bay 32, Quad City 24
Tulsa 39, Iowa 31