The Vegas Knight Hawks, with former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura, scored the first 16 points of the game and held on to beat the Tucson Sugar Skulls 59-55 on Sunday at the Tucson Convention Center.
Splitting time with fellow quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson, the Knight Hawks built a 16-0 lead near the end of the first quarter.
Vegas (8-5) opened the scoring as early when Ben Derby’s kickoff split the uprights for a deuce, giving Vegas an early 2-0 lead.
Following a defensive stop, Johnson ran in the game’s first touchdown four minutes into the first quarter, increasing the Vegas lead to 9-0.
Using both Johnson and de Laura, Vegas drove the length of the field and capped off the drive with a CJ Windham Jr. rushing score. This gave Vegas a 16-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Tucson (5-7) then found the end zone twice, dropping the Knight Hawks lead down to 16-13 with eight minutes left in the half.
The scores included a 1-yard touchdown pass from Jorge Reyna to Tripp Harrington. An unforced fumble and recovery by Ahmad Lyons on the following possession led to a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Jaymest Williams.
Johnson regained a 10-point lead for Vegas with his second rushing score. Vegas added one more point to their lead when they scored a rouge on the subsequent kickoff.
The teams traded touchdowns, including Quentin Randolph’s 16th touchdown of the season. The Knight Hawks led 31-19 with less than one minute to go in the half.
Tucson ended the half by converting their field goal attempt bringing the score up to 31-22.
Vegas opened the second half with a quick score with Antonio Wimbush’s 18th rushing touchdown of the season, increasing Vegas’ lead to 38-22.
The teams would once again go blow-for-blow on touchdown drives, increasing the score to 45-29 with less than eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Tucson scored on two straight drives, dwindling the Vegas lead to two points, 45-43, at the start of the fourth quarter.
Sabino graduate and former Arizona player Drew Dixon scored from 6 yards for one of the scores.
The only full drive to end without a touchdown in the second half was at the end of the third quarter on what looked like a long completion by Vegas, only to end up an interception by Tariq Bracy as he ripped the ball from the receiver’s hands.
Four minutes into the final frame Randolph rushed in his third score of the game, to give Vegas a 52-43 lead.
Tucson answered with their own rushing score to keep the game close at 52-49 at 5:15 in the fourth. Devonte Sapp-Lynch achieved his second rushing touchdown of the game on the play.
With less than one minute to go in the game, both teams traded scores. Vegas held a four-point lead when Tucson failed to convert its 2-point attempt.
Harrington hauled in his second touchdown of the night in the final minute, but a 15-yard taunting penalty backed up the 2-point attempt, which was no good. After Vegas recovered Tucson’s last-second onside kick, the Knight Hawks ran out the clock.
Despite the challenging first quarter, Tucson roared back with over 330 yards of offense and eight touchdowns.
The Sugar Skulls end their regular season July 26, playing the Knight Hawks at Henderson, Nev.
Tucson will look to bounce back Saturday when it travels to play the San Antonio Gunslingers.
The Sugar Skulls have only one home game remaining on July 19 against the Bay Area Panthers.
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