Tucson Takes Down Wranglers 70-42

Photo: 9 Anthony Garrett went down with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter

The Tucson Sugar Skulls put together a dominate first half and went on to beat the Northern Arizona Wranglers 70-42 on SpongeBob SquarePants Night at Tucson Arena.

It was a setback for the Wranglers who had won their previous two games and were inspired to close out their rough season with four straight wins. After scoring 71 last week, Northern Arizona gave up a season high 70 for the Sugar Skulls.

Things started off well as Manny Higuera opened with a deuce, but then both defenses stood up to force field goal attempts, but both kickers failed to execute.

Tucson adjusted their play calling from the last meeting between to two teams and scored the first of their six rushing touchdowns to take a 7-2 lead. The Wranglers offense failed to move the ball and Higuera missed a second field goal attempt.

The deficit began to grow when Tucson QB Ja’Rome Johnson kept the ball running for 16 yards to make it 14-2. The only Wrangler touchdown of the first half came when Nolan Susel scored on a 1 yard run to trim the Tucson lead to 14-9.

Sugar Skulls responded quickly when Eric Johnson returned the kickoff to make the score 21-9. Then things got worse. Anthony Garrett went down awkwardly on a third down sack, leaving the game and forcing another Northern Arizona field goal attempt, a third consecutive miss that hooked left.

Tucson kept the ball on the ground and went on top 28-9 when Mackey maneuvered his way through the defense. On the ensuing kickoff Woodard attempted a deuce, but the ball hit the upright and bounced back into the field of play where Ahmed Lyons recovered the ball at the Wranglers 14 yard line.

The Sugar Skulls needed only two plays to add to their lead. Johnson hit Jaivian Lofton in the corner of the end zone for a 34-9 lead with 2:39 left in the first half. Woodard made up with the missed extra point with a deuce on the kickoff.

Trailing 36-9, DeMarcus Bryant came in for Garrett at quarterback, but started off by throwing two interceptions to end the half. Tucson led 43-9 at halftime.

The teams played evenly in the third quarter with each team. Ka’Ron Ashley was quiet in the first half but caught three touchdown passes from Bryant in the second. The first came when Ashley went up in the end zone to pull down the ball and it was 43-16. After another Tucson score it was Bryant to Ashley again to make the score 49-22.

Marlon Cook Jr. high pointed a pass from Bryant and went over the wall but held on 63-35, with the final score coming with just five seconds left when Stephen Lewis caught the ball with Ashley, with Lewis getting credit.

Time of possession was dominated by Tucson 45-15  and yardage 321-157 with the Skulls rushing for 225 yards led by Brandon Mackey with 111.

Tucson snapped a two game skid to improve to (7-8) while Northern Arizona fell to (3-12). The Sugar Skulls are set to play back to back games at San Diego. The first one next week will be the regular season finale and the following week will be a playoff game.

The Wranglers will conclude their season in Henderson, Nevada as they take on the Vegas Knight Hawks. Kickoff is Saturday at 6pm.

TUCSON SUGAR SKULLS 70, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 42

Score By Quarters-    1         2         3         4       –     T

Northern Arizona        2        7         13       20     –     42

Tucson                      14      29        13       14     –     70

Scoring Summary

NAZ-Higuera Deuce

T-Ayo-Durojaiye 9 yard run (Woodard kick)

T-Johnson 16 yard run (Woodard kick)

NAZ-Susel 1 yard run (Higuera kick)

T-Jackson 50 yard kickoff return (Woodard kick)

T-Mackey 3 yard run (Woodard kick)

T-Lofton 12 yard pass from Johnson (Kick failed)

T-Woodard Deuce

T-Waters 26 yard pass from Johnson (Woodard kick)

NAZ-Ashley 9 yard pass from Bryant (Higuera kick)

T-Mackey 1 yard run (Kick failed)

NAZ-Ashley 8 yard pass from Bryant (Kick failed)

T-Mackey 1 yard run (Woodard kick)

NAZ-Ashley 14 yard pass from Bryant (Drop kick failed)

T-Johnson 8 yard run (Woodard kick)

NAZ-Cook Jr 13 yard pass from Bryant  (Higuera kick)

T-Ayo-Durojaiye 8 yard run (Woodard kick)

NAZ-Lewis 5 yard pass from Bryant (Higuera kick)

ATT:N/A

IFL  STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE      W-L

X-San Diego                             12-3

X-Vegas                                    11-4

X-Arizona                                  11-5

X-Tucson                                    7-8

San Antonio                               4-11

WRANGLERS                           3-12

New Mexico                               2-14

EASTERN CONFERENCE       W-L

X-Green Bay                             13-2

X-Jacksonville                           10-5

X-Tulsa                                      10-5

Orlando                                       9-6

Fishers Freight                            8-7

Quad City                                    5-10

Iowa                                             1-14

X- Clinched playoff berth

SCOREBOARD

Tucson 70, WRANGLERS 42

Arizona 64, San Antonio 42

Jacksonville 43, Iowa 7

San Diego 68, New Mexico 30

Tulsa 44, Quad City 41