TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls hit the road to take on the Bay Area Panthers on Sunday at the SAP Center at 5:05 pm.

The Sugar Skulls have never started 2-0 in franchise history, and they will look to continue to build off their strong start with a 3-0 start to the young season. Their 54-48 victory over the Rattlers was the second all-time win over the Rattlers and their first win in Phoenix in franchise history. 

This will be Tucson's third consecutive road game, and their final road game of this three-game trip before they make their home debut on April 22nd against the San Diego Strike Force. 

Skulls To Watch

Wide Receiver Carrington Thompson had 3 touchdowns and 91 yards last week to go with 3 receiving touchdowns. Former Arizona Wildcat Rashie Hodge had 7 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss and one pass breakup in their victory last Saturday. 

Newcomer Ramone Atkins has looked sharp in his first two games with the Skulls. Ramone has completed 26 of 43 passes for 260 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions. 


Ground Game 

The Skulls had 97 rushing yards last game and they held the Rattlers to just 46 yards on the ground. The defensive line did a tremendous job up front causing pressure and containing the run game. The Panthers have All-IFL running back Justin Rankin who the Skulls will need to contain throughout. 

Sugar Skulls' running back Mike Jones has amassed 28 carries for 87 yards and three scores on the season. He and Benjamin Jones form a dynamic 1-2 punch on the ground and in the return game that makes Tucson's offense lethal when you combine that with what they are capable of in the passing game. 

Last year Tucson won both of their matchups against the Bay Area Panthers and lead them in the all-time series 2-0 as those were the lone matchups between the clubs.