Wranglers Fall Big To End Season

Photo: The top two receivers this season were 4 Ka’Ron Ashley, who finished second in the IFL with 77 receptions and had 15 touchdowns. 13 Marlon Cook Jr. had 49 catches and led the Wranglers with 19 TD receptions. (Ashley at the top, and Cook on the bottom)

The Northern Arizona Wranglers closed out the 2026 season on a low note falling to the Vegas Knight Hawks 54-20 in Henderson, Nevada.

Vegas controlled the opening quarter scoring twice to go up 14-0. Quentin Randolph caught his only pass of the game from quarterback Quincey Crittendon to push the Knight Hawks lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter.. 

The Wranglers finally got on the board when Warren Newman caught an 11 yard pass from DeMarcus Bryant. The kick after failed leaving the deficit at 21-6. Vegas added a Gabe Rui field goal to end the first half on top 24-6.

The Wranglers opened the second half to close the gap to 24-12 on the first of two TD passes from Bryant to Ka’Ron Ashley. Once again though the extra point attempt failed.

The Knight Hawks answered with a one yard run by Crittendon, but the Wranglers came right back on the second touchdown pass to Ashley, who finished with 8 receptions for 89 yards, to make it a 31-20 game. Bryant had another mixed bag with three touchdown passes but also three interceptions. The Vegas quarterback Crittendon did not throw an interception and was 14-16 with 2 TDs. 

The Knight Hawks put the game to bed with a 16 point fourth quarter as Northern Arizona failed to score, closing out another disappointing season for the Wranglers. Although better than the 2025 season, this season ended at (3-13).

Vegas ended the regular season at (11-5) and will move on as they will host the Arizona Rattlers on Sunday in the first round of the playoffs.

VEGAS KNIGHT HAWKS 54, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 20

Score by Quarters-    1        2       3        4   –   T

Northern Arizona        0       6      14       0   –   20

Vegas                        14     17     14      16  –   54

Scoring Summary

V-Crittendon 13 yard run (Rui kick)

V-McKie 3 yard pass from Crittendon (Rui kick)

V-Randolph 14 yard pass from Crittendon (Rui kick)

NAZ-Newman 11 yard pass from Bryant (Kick failed)

V-Rui 27 yard Field Goal

NAZ-Ashley 10 yard pass from Bryant (Kick failed)

V-Wimbush 6 yard run (Rui kick)

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

V-Stoudemire 4 yard run (Rui kick)

V-Buckner 12 yard pass from Crittendon (Rui kick)

V-Rui Deuce

V-Crittendon 4 yard run (Rui kick)

ATT:N/A

IFL  STANDINGS

WESTERN CONFERENCE…..W-L

X-San Diego…………………….13-3

X-Vegas………………………….12-4

X-Arizona…………………….…..11-5

X-Tucson………………………….7-9

San Antonio………………………5-11

WRANGLERS……………………3-13

New Mexico………………………2-14

EASTERN CONFERENCE…….W-L

X-Green Bay………………….….13-3

X-Jacksonville……………………11-5

X-Tulsa……………………………11-5

X-Orlando…………………………10-6

Fishers Freight…………………….8-8

Quad City………………………….5-11

Iowa………………………………..1-15

X- Clinched playoff berth

SCOREBOARD

Vegas 54, WRANGLERS 20

Jacksonville 60, Green Bay 47

San Diego 40, Tucson 36

San Antonio 33, Iowa 26

Tulsa  66, Quad City 42

Orlando 67, Fishers Freight 63

PLAYOFFS- Arizona Time

Western Conference 

#4 Tucson at #1San Diego, Sunday, 6:00pm

#3 Arizona at #2 Vegas, Sunday, 2:30pm

Eastern Conference

#4 Orlando at #1 Green Bay, Sunday, 11:00am

#3 Tulsa at #2 Jacksonville, Saturday, 4:00pm