Third Times A Charm For The Wranglers

Photo: 9 Anthony Garrett powers his way through a pair of defenders for a touchdown

Quarterback Anthony Garrett threw for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for one more score to lead the Northern Arizona Wranglers to a 71-33 blowout win over the New Mexico Chupacabras in their final home game of the season at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

After two losses at New Mexico, the Wranglers were more than ready to beat the Chapacabras. New Mexico won 47-40 on April 11 and 35-32 on June 21. Coming off a thrilling win over Tucson, a good crowd turned out hoping for another win.

Photo: 22 Nolan Susel stretches out to get the ball to the one yard line

The Wranglers started off with Nolan Susel scoring the first of his two rushing touchdowns in the game. He also had two receptions for 32 yards. Susel said, “Great to close out our home part of the schedule with a couple of wins. We feel like we had this potential all season and unfortunately it took us some time to get it going.” About the two road games to end the season, Susel added, “Finish strong and win them all.”

After a game tying score by the Chupacabras, Garrett kept the ball and flew high over the line to score the second touchdown to give Northern Arizona the lead 14-7. The Wranglers defense began to show signs of what was later to come, holding New Mexico to a field goal making it 14-10. 

Photo:4 Ka’Ron Ashley had a big day with 9 receptions and 3 touchdowns

A missed field goal attempt gave the ball back to New Mexico, but Brendon Luper picked off a pass setting up another score. On the very next play Garrett connected with Warren Newman in the end zone to go on top 21-10. Garrett would throw two more touchdown passes, both to Ka’Ron Ashley as the Wranglers built a 36-20 lead at the half. 

 New Mexico scored on their opening possession of the second half, but the Wranglers would dominate after that, scoring 35 straight points. The final two touchdowns came courtesy of pick-sixes by Dywan Griffin. The first ball thrown by Blake Bartz was returned 20 yards and then the second off the arm of Arthur Jackson for a 17 yard return. Griffin, a recent acquisition, said, “I was able to get my head around on both of the balls and jumped the route. That was a great way for us to close out the game.”

Garrett, who completed 15 of 19 passes, said, “We played with a chip on our shoulder and wanted to come out and beat these guys. We felt we should have won that game over there and knew we could do it. We were able to put it all together tonight which is a good way to go out here.”

Linebacker Noah Barrett had five tackles in just his second game as a Wrangler. The defense held New Mexico to just two scores in the entire second half, one to start the third quarter and one to end the game. Barrett said, “We came out focused and knew what we wanted to accomplish. When everyone is balling it is a lot of fun.”

Northern Arizona improved to (3-11) while New Mexico fell to (2-13). Next up is a road trip to  Tucson on Sunday at 4:30pm as the Wranglers will look for their third straight win. 

NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 71, NEW MEXICO CHUPACABRAS 33

Score By Quarters-    1         2         3         4       –     T

New Mexico               7        13        7         6       –     33

Northern Arizona      14        22      14        21      –     71  

Scoring Summary

NAZ-Susel 1 yard run (Higuera kick)

NM-White 1 yard run (Macias kick)

NAZ-Garrett 2 yard run (Higuera kick)

NM-Macias 22 yard Field Goal

NAZ-Newman 29 yard pass from Garrett(Higuera kick)

NAZ-Higuera Deuce

NM-White 3 yard run (Macisas kick)

NAZ-Ashley 36 yard pass from Garrett (Kick failed)

NAZ-Ashley 8 yard pass from Garrett (Higuera kick)

NM-Macias 34 yard Field Goal

NM-White 5 yard run (Macias kick)

NAZ-Smith 19 yard run (Higuera kick)

NAZ-Ashley 21 yard pass from Garrett (Higuera kick)

NAZ-Susel 4 yard run (Higuera kick)

NAZ-Griffin 20 yard pass interception return (Higuera kick)

NAZ-Griffin 15 yard pass interception return (Higuera kick)

NM-Johnson 17 yard pass from Serrano (Run failed)

ATT:N/A

IFL STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE      W-L

San Diego                                 11-3

Vegas                                        11-4

Arizona                                      10-5

Tucson                                       6-8

San Antonio                               4-10

WRANGLERS                           3-11

New Mexico                               2-13

EASTERN CONFERENCE       W-L

Green Bay                                 13-2

Jacksonville                                 9-5

Tulsa                                            9-5

Orlando                                        9-6

Fishers Freight                             8-7

Quad City                                     5-9

Iowa                                             1-13

SCOREBOARD

WRANGLERS 71, New Mexico 33

Arizona 45, Tucson 25

Green Bay 65, Iowa 21

Fishers Freight 49, Quad City 35

Orlando 55, San Antonio 54

San Diego 52, Vegas 38 

Tulsa 58, Jacksonville 49