Wranglers Frustration Boils Over In Loss To San Diego

Photo: 22 Nolan Susel scored on a 9 yard run in the second quarter attempts to get by 23 Elijah Reed

Frustration reached a new level for the Northern Arizona Wranglers after they lost their 10th game of the season resulting in an all-out intense skirmish between the two teams. 

The San Diego Strike Force finished off the trifecta this season with a 52-37 win over the Wranglers at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The Strike Force won the first meeting 42-40 and then a 67-35 blowout win, both in San Diego. The Strike Force have now won 8 straight after the Wranglers won the first four.

Photo: 4 Ka’Ron Ashley gets challenged by a fan as he goes up for the one handed grab

The game started off simple enough with both teams finding the end zone, but a theme was slowly building and that included extracurricular activities and jawing after the whistle had blown. By games end you began to wonder if the team could have some civility. We all soon found out not.

Photo: 9 Anthony Garrett reaches for extra yards as he goes to the sideline

The game was tied after one quarter with Wranglers quarterback Anthony Garrett weaving his way through five defenders diving into the end zone for the touchdown. Each team took turns leading in the second quarter, but after the Wranglers scored to tie the game at 20, a San Diego offside penalty moved the ball close enough to go for two and the Wranglers went up 22-20 with :31 left in the half. The Strike Force scored with :06 left on a Nate Davis pass to Jalen Sample. A Lacayo deuce pushed the deficit to 29-24 at the half. 

Photo: 3 Ryan Johnson gets hands to the face by 52 Adrian Hawkins Jr., who was called for a penalty on the play

The third quarter was when the game got a lot more chippy. Players from both squads were ejected including some of the assistant coaches. San Diego extended their lead to 13 and then to 14 as the third quarter ended. Ahead 44-30 the Strike Force defensive coordinator was tossed, followed on the next play by a defensive lineman. 

The Wranglers pulled within 44-37 and after the Strike Force missed a 30 yard field goal attempt, it looked like momentum shift was to come, but on the very first play from their own 5 yard line  Garrett’s pass was picked off by Caleb Streat who returned to the Northern Arizona 8. The very next play Eddie Vander took it in and that was the needle that popped the balloon. 

Photo: 13 Marlon Cook Jr. gets by 6 Herman Smith and looks to get past 23 Elijah Reed

Trailing 50-37 Garrett was sacked for a safety right after a Wranglers offensive lineman was ejected. Meanwhile the jawing continued.

As the final seconds ticked off the players picked up where the officials had attempted to keep the peace by tossing players and even coaches who lost their cool. What should have been a normal hello and goodbye soon exploded into a chaotic scene where the players and coaches were joined by arena security and local police. Even some fans got into the fracas as San Diego players were getting hit with vulgar insults as they were attempting to just get to their locker room.

Wranglers running back Nolan Susel said, “A close game that got away from us at the end and we lost our heads and that pretty much cost us the game. It is unfortunate to have it end like that. A lot of frustration for us and things got out of hand. It’s been a long season for us.” About the discussion in the locker room, “Coach said that we need to focus on ourselves and quit doing things that take away from our chances of winning games. Last week we scored 70 against the number one team and none of that rolled over so we have to pick it up and do it again, but today we did not.” 

San Diego coach Taylor Genuser said, “Not the way you want to end any game. Just ugly. Being our third game with them there was a lot of emotion coming in and neither team wanted to back down. I know we do not want to get a reputation for what you saw at the end and I am sure Coach James and the Wranglers do not want that either.” As for the game itself, “I thought we played pretty well but we put ourselves in bad spots and we can’t do that. Third and 20 and fourth and 25 are places we do not want to be. Fortunately we made some plays that we had to have today. It worked out for us but there are things we need to work on moving forward.” 

In the battle of the quarterbacks, Nate Davis went 17-26-0, 187 yards with 3 touchdowns for San Diego while Anthony Garrett was 14-24-2, 126 yards and 2 touchdowns for Northern Arizona.

The Wranglers will be on the road this week as they play the New Mexico Chupacabras who have lost 8 in a row after getting their only win versus the Wranglers on April 11. 

San Diego has now won 4 straight and will host Vegas in the first of two meetings. A win by the Strike Force will put them into first place in the Western Conference, 

SAN DIEGO STRIKE FORCE 52, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 37

Score By Quarters-  1         2         3         4       –     T

San Diego                7        22       15        8       –    52

Northern Arizona      7        17         6        7       –    37

Scoring Summary

SD-Vander 6 yard pass from Davis (Lacayo kick)

NAZ-Garrett 13 yard run (Higuera kick)

SD-Davis 1 yard run (Kick failed)

NAZ-Susel 9 yard run (Higuera kick)

SD-Blackman 16 yard pass from Davis (Lacayo kick)

NAZ-Omayebu 17 yard run (pass from Garrett)

NAZ-Higuera Deuce

SD-Sample 10 yard pass from Davis (Lacayo kick)

SD-Lacayo Deuce

SD-Vander 2 yard run (pass from Davis)

NAZ-Ashley 16 yard pass from Garrett (Kick failed)

SD-Vander 1 yard run(Lacayo kick)

NAZ-Smith 4 yard pass from Garrett (Higuera kick)

SD-Vander 8 yard run (Kick failed)

SD- Safety

ATT:N/A

IFL STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE      W-L

Vegas                                         9-2

San Diego                                  8-2

Arizona                                       7-4

San Antonio                               4-7

Tucson                                       5-6

New Mexico                               1-10

WRANGLERS                           1-10

EASTERN CONFERENCE       W-L

Green Bay                                 10-2

Jacksonville                                 9-2

Orlando                                        6-5

Tulsa                                            6-5

Fishers Freight                             6-6

Quad City                                     5-6

Iowa                                             1-10

SCOREBOARD

San Diego 52, Wranglers 37

Fishers Freight 37, Arizona 36

Green Bay 54, Jacksonville 45

Quad City 42, Iowa 17

San Antonio 74, New Mexico 18

Tucson 52, Vegas 48

Tulsa 52, Orlando 50