Photo: 1 Deshon Stoudemire would put a spin move after this catch and go the distance for the Wranglers first touchdown
Tucson quarterback Jorge Reyna rushed for three touchdowns and threw for one more in a 44-24 win over the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
The Sugar Skulls jumped on top 10-0 on a 32 yard field goal by Kevin Macias and a three yard run by Devonte Lych-Sapp.
The Wranglers scored all their points in the second quarter. It started when quarterback CJ Fowler hit Deshon Stoudemire on a curl route, ditching the defender, and bolting 41 yards for the score.
The Skulls countered with a short run by Reyna to go up 17-7. Fowler would scramble and score to pull within three again at 17-14.
A pass over the middle to Lynch-Sapp after coming out of the backfield late went for a 31 yard touchdown play and a 24-14 Tucson lead.
Photo: Jamal Couch held on for the catch in the first half
Northern Arizona would score on their final two possessions. First, Fowler connected with Jamal Couch in the end zone for a touchdown.
A fumble by the Skulls on the kickoff gave NAZ the ball at the Tucson 20. The offense was held in check, forcing a last second field goal. Brandon Fischer split the uprights from 25 yards out to tie the game at 24 at the half.
Tucson came out and played a great second half defensively as Northern Arizona struggled and did not score again. There were opportunities though, but all went sour.
A forced fumble as two Northern Arizona players sandwiched Jorge Reyna caused the ball to come out and the recovery gave NAZ the ball at the Tucson five yard line. The very next play, the Wranglers gave it right back. Fowler ran around the right end and extended his arm out with the ball in hope of a touchdown, but the ball got knocked out of his hand just shy of the goal line, and was recovered by the Sugar Skulls.
After a missed field goal by Tucson, the Wranglers failed to get a first down and a field goal attempt was blocked and recovered in the end zone by JaQuez Jackson, giving the Sugar Skulls a 31-24 lead.
Photo: The Wranglers defense made sure of the tackle with Devonte Sapp-Lynch
Once again the Wranglers thought they had a touchdown when Fowler’s shovel pass to Marvin Kinsey Jr. went 30 yards for an apparent touchdown, but Fowler was ruled to have been past the line of scrimmage when the tossed the ball.
Tucson’s defense forced a turnover on downs and Reyna would eventually score on a two yard run to give the Skulls a 38-24 lead after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter a Wranglers field goal went just wide to end another scoring opportunity.
Reyna scored on a two yard run to increase the Skulls lead to 44-24 with just under two minutes remaining to close out the contest.
The Wranglers (0-3) will travel to Glendale and face the (3-0) Arizona Rattlers on Saturday at 6:05 pm.
TUCSON SUGAR SKULLS 44, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 24
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Tucson 10 14 14 6 – 44
Northern Arizona 0 24 0 0 – 24
Scoring Summary
T-Macias 32 yd FG
T-Sapp-Lynch 3 yard run (Macias kick)
NAZ-Stoudemire 41 yard pass from Fowler
T-Reyna 5 yd run (Macias kick)
NAZ-Fowler 7 yd run (Fischer kick)
T-Sapp-Lynch 31 yd pass from Reyna (Macias kick)
NAZ-Couch 4 yd pass from Fowler (Fischer kick)
NAZ-Fischer 25 yd FG
T-Blocked FG recovered by Jackson (Macias kick)
T-Reyna 2 yd run (Macias kick)
T-Reyna 1 yd run (Macias kick)
