The Tucson Sugar Skulls dropped a close game in their home opener to the Jacksonville Sharks, losing by a 28-21 score on Saturday night at the Tucson Convention Center.
The crowd was electric the entire game and the Sugar Skulls were able to feed off of that, something wide receiver Jerome Buckner said the whole team could feel.
“The boneyard showed out,” Buckner said. “It was an amazing experience. The crowd was interactive. I loved it and I wouldn’t ask for anything else besides a win for the first home game.”
The Sugar Skulls (0-2) had to endure yet another slow start on offense against the Sharks (3-0), something that has been an issue for the first couple of games.
“It’s just a long season,” Buckner said. “So every loss, every downfall that we take, we just have to bounce back. It’s all about responding to adversity. Whatever league you’re in. Whatever sports you play, you have to respond to adversity and come back stronger.”
In the game against the Arizona Rattlers two weeks ago, the Sugar Skulls ran into a lot of the same problems as this week in that 56-28 blowout at Phoenix.
Many of the offensive woes can be directed to a young wide receiving corps, which despite the level of inexperience, has shown signs of tremendous talent.
The defense was an immovable wall for much of the first half and caused many problems for the Jacksonville offense, even forcing a fumble in the third quarter and coming up with a huge stop late in the fourth to create an opportunity for a game-tying touchdown.
“We prioritize getting pressure and trying to affect the game,” said Djimon Brooks, a former defensive tackle at Georgia Tech. “We were able to do that out there on the field. We just have to find ways to finish and come out how we want to.”
Sabino High grad and former Arizona Wildcat Drew Dixon also shined in the loss, catching a touchdown pass in the second quarter in front of a local crowd who saw him do the same at Arizona Stadium. Dixon played three years under former head coach Kevin Sumlin before transferring to Limestone University, where he was a standout.
It was a defensive chess match for much of the first quarter, as neither team was able to get close to reaching the end zone.
Jacksonville was the first team to put points on the board in the second quarter. Jimmie Robinson carried the ball into the end zone to put the Sharks up 7-0 following the extra point with 13:28 left in the first half.
Tucson turned the ball over on its next drive after E’momd Caldwell’s pass was intercepted trying to complete it to Dixon on the Jacksonville 22-yard line.
Jacksonville got as close as the Tucson 11 before its drive stalled out. The Sugar Skulls made the most of the turnover on downs and marched to the Jacksonville 1.
The drive was capped off with a pass from Devonte Sapp-Lynch — Marshawn Lynch’s brother — to Dixon, tying the game at 7 apiece with six seconds left in the first half.
Lynch
— Indoor Football League (@IndoorFL) April 13, 2025Dixon for 6 to tie the game for the @sugarskullsfb vs @jaxsharks #TheIndoorWar #IFL pic.twitter.com/oeInvGn3kz
Jacksonville attempted a field goal before time could expire at its own 22-yard line, but it was missed wide to the left.
The Sharks received the ball to start the third quarter and it was returned to their own 13. Four minutes later, Jacksonville was back in the end zone.
Kaleb Barker found Jaedon Stoshak on third and goal on the Tucson 3, putting the Sharks up 14-7 with 8:38 left to play in the third quarter.
Tucson answered with a long drive of its own, starting at its own 22 and ending at Jacksonville’s 2.
Caldwell kept the ball on third and goal and fought past a swarm of defenders to cross the end zone, making it 14-14 with 4:00 remaining in the third.
The @sugarskullsfb Tie up the game late in Q3 vs @jaxsharks
— Indoor Football League (@IndoorFL) April 13, 2025#TheIndoorWar #IFL pic.twitter.com/DgifCDprba
Jacksonville retook the lead with the very first play of the fourth quarter. Barker completed the pass to Karon Ashley on first and goal on the Tucson 7, putting the Sharks back on top with a 20-14 score following a missed extra-point attempt.
After a short three-and-out drive, the Tucson offense found itself back on the field following a forced fumble on the second play of Jacksonville’s possession.
“The fumble was a big turning point,” Brooks said. “I felt like we needed a play right there. We were able to make that play, get the fumble recovery, punch it in and take the lead. It put us back in the game.”
Tre Henry forced the fumble while Brooks recovered it at the Jacksonville 12, sparking a little bit more life in the Sugar Skulls.
The Tucson offense took full advantage of the turnover and turned it into a touchdown on the second play of the drive. Caldwell found Buckner in the corner of the end zone for the wide receiver’s first touchdown in the TCC and the Sugar Skulls’ first lead of the game, putting them up 21-20 with 9:55 remaining.
“That was my first IFL touchdown,” Buckner said. “It was off the tipped pass and that right there just shows you team football. You gotta be attentive. You gotta be alert and locked in because you never know when the ball’s gonna go your way. But I’m looking forward to next week and getting a W in that win column.”
The Jacksonville offense was up to the challenge of regaining the lead and did so in a long 5-minute drive that saw it march to the Tucson 1.
The drive was capped on fourth and one with a handoff to Edward Vander, making it a 28-21 game after a 2-point attempt was completed with 4:36 left in the game.
Both teams would exchange drives that resulted in no points. Jacksonville elected to take a knee to end the game following an interception thrown by Caldwell.
Caldwell finished the game with a rough stat line of 7 for 24 with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Sapp-Lynch led all rushers with 11 carries and 56 yards. Caldwell had six carries for 23 yards and one touchdown.
Dixon led all wide receivers with three receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown. Buckner followed with two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown.
The Sugar Skulls will travel to Prescott next week to take on the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Saturday at the Findlay Toyota Center. Kickoff is at 6:05 p.m.. Tucson will then play at the San Diego Strike Force on April 27 before returning to the TCC on May 3 to take on the Rattlers.
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