The Tucson Sugar Skulls got off to a red-hot start to take the lead and never lost it, beating the Northern Arizona Wranglers 59-38 on Saturday night at the Tucson Convention Center.
The Sugar Skulls (5-6) are now 2-0 against Northern Arizona (1-11) this season, a complete switch from last season, when Tucson was swept by its in-state rival. Tucson is 4-1 against both in-state teams — Northern Arizona and the Arizona Rattlers.
The Tucson defense, which allowed an average of 55 points per a game in the last four, only gave up 38 in an impressive performance on Saturday night.
“I think the last two weeks, our defense has played lights out,” Tucson coach Billy Back said. “Trenilyas Tatum, coming in with that quick step at linebacker, has sparked our defense. It’s kept us keeping ‘KG’ (Kendrick Gladney) at safety, and it’s really kept us in sync. Having the right person at that backend position is huge for the defense.”
Starting out slow has been a problem for Tucson this season, but two turnovers by the Wranglers first two drives got it going early with a 14-0 lead for the Sugar Skulls by the end of the first quarter.
“Just getting our guys’ defense out there, getting a stop early,” Back said. “Brion Murray made a big pick there. Just gives our guys confidence, building the next offensive possession. Our guys on offense capitalized.”
Jamyest Williams and Davonte Sapp-Lynch emerged as an unstoppable duo as both running backs scored touchdowns and gained tough yards to move the ball.
“It’s good, it’s fun,” Back said. “You got somebody who’s got smoothness. You got somebody’s got speed. You know, smoothness and speed. ‘Vonte gets those holes, makes guys miss on tippy toes, or Jamyest just runs through them and runs past them.”
Williams has shown that he is a do-it-all player, as last week, he had two interceptions, including a game-saving pick in the third set of overtime in the 50-47 win over the Arizona Rattlers at Glendale.
“He’s a football player. I mean this, that’s the best compliment you give a player, that they’re just a flat out football player,” Back said. “Offense, defense, special teams, running down, making blocks, making tackles, defending passes … I mean, he’s a football player.
“I don’t speak highly enough about him. Getting him this year was a blessing for us. Other coaches, passed on him, sent him playbooks, didn’t bring him in. We’re like, ‘Well, shoot, we’ll take a look at him.’ Played both sides of the ball, and he has been an absolute stud for us.”
The Wranglers received the ball to start the game and a touchback put them at their own 20. On the third play of the game, Murray picked off Ramone Atkins, giving the Sugar Skulls great field position.
Tucson took of the turnover and punched in a touchdown. Sapp-Lynch had a 1-yard scoring rush on his second attempt, making it 7-0 with 5:08 in the first quarter.
Northern Arizona began its next drive on its 15, but a sack by Deshaun Mallory on fourth down gave Tucson the ball back at the 17.
Williams got the handoff and scored on a 10-yard run, making it 14-0 with 6 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Wranglers’ next drive was set up at Tucson’s 11 after a personal foul was called on former Sabino and Arizona player Drew Dixon was called after the previous touchdown.
Northern Arizona’s Kaleb Lowe attempted a 3-point kick on 4th down and made it, shortening Tucson’s lead to 14-3 with 12:22 left in the half.
The Sugar Skulls added another seven points on their next drive. Larry ‘Tripp’ Harrington scored on 3-yard run, making it 21-3 with 8:48 left in the half.
Northern Arizona began its drive on its own 2 after a penalty on the previous drive was enforced. On the second play, Atkins was strip-sacked and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Tucson, making its lead 27-3 following a missed extra-point kick.
The Wranglers finally managed to put six points on the board with a third-down run play. The touchdown made it a 27-10 game.
Tucson was set up with great field position after a pooch kick landed in Dixon’s hands at the 25. Harrington lined up in the “wildcat” position at quarterback for the second time and scored yet again. The 3-yard run put Tucson ahead 34-10 with 57 seconds left in the half.
Northern Arizona marched to the Tucson 3, capping the drive off with a passing touchdown to Deshoun Stoudemire, making it 34-16.
The Sugar Skulls managed to put two points on the board during the extra-point attempt. The kick was blocked, grabbed by Tariq Bracy, who returned the ball to the end zone to make it 36-16 just before the end of the half.
On the second play of Tucson’s second-half opening drive, Reyna’s pass was intercepted at the Northern Arizona 5.
Northern Arizona took advantage of the turnover and turned that into 8 points, making it 36-24 with 11:30 in the third quarter.
Reyna’s pass was intercepted on the second play of Tucson’s next drive, but a penalty on the Wranglers overturned that and gave the Sugar Skulls a first down on the Northern Arizona 20.
Tucson did not take the second opportunity for granted, as Williams ran the ball 20 yards to the end zone, making it 43-24 with 8:41 in the third quarter.
Northern Arizona’s next drive stalled on fourth down, giving Tucson the ball back. The Sugar Skulls got to the Wrangler 9, where Sapp-Lynch would run the ball the rest of the way for a touchdown, making it 50-24 with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
Northern Arizona scored at the beginning of the fourth quarter when Atkins found Arland Bruce for a 25-yard touchdown pass, cutting Tucson’s lead to 50-31 with 12:30 remaining.
Tucson answered back on the next drive. Reyna found Alphonso Taylor in the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown, making it 57-32 with 7 minutes left.
On the kickoff, Kevin Macias nailed the middle of the goal posts for a 2-point play, increasing the Tucson lead to 59-32.
Northern Arizona scored one more touchdown to make it 59-38, but it was too little, too late.
The Sugar Skulls will be back on home turf next Sunday, when they will take on the Las Vegas Knight Hawks at 3:05 p.m.
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