The Tucson Sugar Skulls hosted a matchup against the New Mexico Chupacabaras on Sunday, marking their third home game of the season.
With no victories yet at home, the Sugar Skulls came out determined through their run game.
That proved to be the difference in a 33-26 victory at the Tucson Arena.
Brandon Mackey, running back for the Sugar Skulls, started out the game with 24 yards on three carries before coming out with an injury.
What seemed like a blow for the Sugar Skulls (2-2) ended up serving as motivation as their momentum did not flatten.
Tavion Thomas, power back for the Sugar Skulls who played collegiately at Utah, picked up right where Mackey started, giving the Sugar Skulls an 84-yard performance on 11 carries along with a game-sealing touchdown.
“He’s hard to bring down,” Rayshaun Kizer, Sugar Skulls head coach, spoke on Thomas’ performance. “We put a lot of emphasis on the run game this week to take some pressure off our quarterback.”
The run game was not the only deciding factor for the Sugar Skulls in their victory over New Mexico (1-3).
A defensive stop off a deep lob pass is what ultimately kept them in the lead with only a few seconds left on the clock.
D’Jimon Brooks, linebacker for the Sugar Skulls, spoke about the defensive gameplan to end the game.
“During practice, we emphasize a lot on situation drills where the offense has to score and the defense has to get a stop,” Brooks said. “When it comes up in a game, it becomes a second nature.”
Tucson is 2-0 against New Mexico this season.
The Sugar Skulls will next play at the San Diego Strike Force on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. before returning May 2 to Tucson Arena against the San Antonio Gunslingers at 6 p.m.
Jose Vega is an intern with the Jet Sports Network. Check out JSN’s Instagram Page.
Recommended for you
