Sugar Skulls Topple Northern Arizona Wranglers in Final Home Game

Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Sugar Skulls came out on top in the final home game of the regular 2026 season, defeating the Northern Arizona Wranglers with a final score of 42-70. The Skulls emerged victorious due to a strong offensive effort led by quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson and a show of increased focus on the field. The Skulls energized the Boneyard as they fought for victory, allowing for a loud and successful final home turf matchup.

A Strong Start

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. The Skulls weren’t finished, and quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson snagged a second touchdown for Tucson by weaving into the end zone. The first quarter ended with Tucson in the lead, 14-2.

Northern Arizona attempted a comeback in the second quarter, and quickly scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 14-9 with Tucson leading by 5 points. Tucson was quick to reply, and Aaron Jackson rushed downfield to secure a touchdown on a kickoff return. Running back Brandon Mackey continued to prove valuable to the offense, consistently rushing for yardage for the Skulls. Mackey continued to shine as he pushed into the end zone to provide the Skulls with a touchdown. 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 pass by Ja’Rome Johnson, the score 34-9. Kicker Ben Woodard secured a deuce for the Skulls, bringing Tucson’s lead up to 36-9. Things continued to look up for the Skulls as defensive back Ahmad Lyons snagged an interception in the Skulls’ end zone. Tucson worked hard to convert the interception into a touchdown, and in the end, wide receiver Jaron Waters secured a touchdown for the Skulls. Before Northern Arizona could respond, defensive back Zachariah Twardosky secured an interception, ending the second quarter. The score going into the second half was 43-9, with the Skulls in the lead.

A Steady Finish

The second half opened with a touchdown by the Wranglers, narrowing the lead held by Tucson to 43-16. Tucson responded with a touchdown of its own, rushed by Brandon Mackey, bringing the score to 49-16. Northern Arizona snagged one more touchdown, but Mackey was quick to widen the Skulls’ lead with his third touchdown of the night. The third quarter ended with a score of 56-22, Tucson leading by 34 points.

The final quarter turned into a battle of back and forth as Northern Arizona attempted to claw its way into the lead. Northern Arizona was the first to score, securing a touchdown that brought the score to 56-28. Tucson was quick to react, and Ja’Rome Johnson rushed into the end zone for a touchdown, 63-28. Northern Arizona secured an airborne touchdown as they continued to fight for a chance at victory, the score 63-35. TD Ayo-Durojaiye secured another touchdown for the Skulls by jumping into the end zone before the Wranglers’ defense could pull him back, 70-35. Northern Arizona was the last to score, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the lead the Skulls had built. In the end, Tucson came out on top, with a final score of 70-42.

Up Next

Next up, the Tucson Sugar Skulls hit the road to face the San Diego Strike Force. The matchup takes place on July 24th, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM MST. Tune in from home to support the Sugar Skulls as they round out the regular season.

Additionally, the Tucson Sugar Skulls have officially earned a spot in the IFL Playoffs! Soon, the Skulls will tackle the IFL Playoffs as they battle for a chance to become National Champions.

Fans can stay updated with schedules, news, and highlights by following the Tucson Sugar Skulls on all social media platforms and visiting tucsonsugarskulls.com.

Players Mentioned

RB, 6’0, 1

QB, 6’0, V

DB, 5’10, V

RB, 5’7, 2

WR, 6’3, 1

#18 Ben Woodard