The Tucson Sugar Skulls clinched a spot in the Indoor Football League playoffs with Sunday’s 70-42 victory over the Northern Arizona Wranglers in the final game of the season at the Tucson Arena.
The Sugar Skulls are 7-8 entering their last game of the regular season Friday at 7 p.m. at the San Diego Strike, the first place team in the Western Conference at 12-3.
Tucson will then play at the Strike Force again on Aug. 2 in the first round of the playoffs.
This will be Tucson’s fourth postseason appearance. The Sugar Skulls previously advanced to the playoffs in 2019 (their inaugural season), 2022 and 2023. They are in search of their first playoff victory.
Tucson quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson continued to be the leader the Sugar Skulls need to get into the postseason. He completed 7 of 9 pass attempts for 96 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Northern Arizona (3-12).
Northern Arizona scored first, opening the game with a deuce.
Both Tucson and Northern Arizona initially failed to capitalize, and the score stood at 2-0 for most of the first quarter.
Tucson was the first to secure a touchdown, as running back TD Ayo-Durojaiye rushed the ball into the end zone from 9 yards with 6:06 left in the first quarter.
Johnson scored the second touchdown by weaving 16 yards into the end zone as the first quarter expired, giving Tucson a 14-2 lead.
Northern Arizona quickly scored a touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter, but Tucson was quick to reply with Aaron Jackson’s 50-yard kickoff return for a score that put Tucson ahead 21-9 with 11:19 left in the period.
Tucson running back Brandon Mackey, who rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries with three touchdowns, scored on a 3-yard rush with 5:37 left until halftime.
Tucson immediately regained possession after Jaron Waters recovered a ball kicked by Ben Woodard that bounced off the Wranglers’ goalpost.
Wide receiver Jaivian Lofton converted the turnover into a touchdown from a 12-yard pass by Johnson, increasing the lead to 34-9.
Woodard secured a deuce for the Sugar Skulls, bringing Tucson’s lead up to 36-9.
On Northern Arizona’s next possession, Tucson defensive back Ahmad Lyons snagged an interception in the Sugar Skulls’ end zone.
Johnson’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Waters with 23 seconds left before halftime continued the rout.
And it got worse for Northern Arizona when Tucson defensive back Zachariah Twardosky secured an interception at the goal line and scored, putting the Sugar Skulls ahead 43-9 at halftime.
From there, it was just a matter of time toward Tucson clinching the playoff berth.
Ayo-Durojaiye rushed for 74 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 30 yards
Lofton finished with four receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Bri’On Murray and Malik Sonnier led Tucson with three tackles each. Abayomi Kannike had two tackles, both for loss.
Rafiq Abdul-Wahid registered a sack.
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