TUCSON, Ariz. – The Tucson Sugar Skulls (4-9) beat the Northern Arizona Wranglers (1-10) in a triple-overtime thriller at the Boneyard by a score of 48-46 on Saturday.

The win over their in-state rivals allowed the Sugar Skulls to avenge an early season loss to the Wranglers back on June 24 and evened the season series (1-1).

Intense Overtimes

The end of regulation did not disappoint. NAZ marched down the field to take the lead by way of a late field goal with 28 seconds left in regulation, 34-31. This just minutes after Tucson marched 99 yards to score on Mike Jones 1 yard rushing TD with just over six minutes remaining.

Then Sugar Skulls quarterback Cory Murphy went to work. Murphy led Tucson on another game tying drive to the Wranglers 7-yard line, allowing kicker Kevin Goessling to drill the game tying 17 yard field goal as time expired in regulation, 34-34.

Tucson struck first in OT1 on a 7-yard passing TD to wide receiver Jazeric Peterson, but the PAT attempt was no good. The Wranglers then scored on their OT possession, but the after a Dixie Wooten kicker ice job, the special teams' unit saved the game with a Isame Faciane PAT block.

There was no scoring in the second OT. In the third OT, Murphy launched a 30-yard TD pass to Jazeric Peterson, and after the successful mandatory 2-PT conversion, the Sugar Skull owned their first lead since the 8:17 mark of the third quarter.

Reed Jr. and the Wranglers managed to get into the end zone themselves, but Reed Jr. then fell to the turf while dropping back to pass on the 2-point conversion attempt. This sealed the football game for Tucson, 48-46.

Murphy Masterpiece

QB Cory Murphy's poise over his first two starts with the Sugar Skulls has been unquestionable. The veteran QB threw for 99 yards (145), and three TDs (3), to go along with 79 yards on the ground (158) to round out another spectacular performance.

Murphy brought life to the Boneyard as he led the Sugar Skulls to their third-straight home win. Murphy started the game with a 30-yard rush to set the tone in the first half.

WR Jazeric Peterson put on a dazzling display of offense as he ended the game with five catches for 69 yards and two TDs in the overtime frames (3), including a game-winning 2-point conversion reception. Jones also got in on the action as he punched in two rushing TDs (18) on 5 attempts for 23 yards on the ground.

Sluggers in the Secondary

DB Delondo Boyd set the tone for the defense with an interception returned to the end zone early in the second quarter as the secondary of the Sugar Skulls laid down some massive hits on the opposing receivers throughout the game. DB Mike Minter logged a team-high 10.5 tackles (45.5), while Delvin Batiste deflected three passes (5) and added to his 6.5 total tackles (24.5).

The Sugar Skull defense earned a team total of seven tackles-for-loss behind defensive lineman Terrence Fullum who had a team-high 1.5 tackles-for-loss (4.5).

I-10 Tussle: Part Three

The Rattlers have taken the first two matchups of the season against the Sugar Skulls going into Week-16. Opposing QB Drew Powell leads the IFL in both rushing yards per game (66.1) and rushing TDs (24) going the weekend, and he led the Rattlers to a 60-48 win over the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday.

The Sugar Skulls host the Arizona Rattlers (9-2) in their third and final regular season meeting on Sunday, August 8 at 3:05 p.m. at the Footprint center (formerly Phoenix Suns Arena).