Box Score TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls fell just short in double overtime to the San Diego Strike Force on Saturday evening in the Boneyard. The Sugar Skulls fall to 3-1 on the season with the loss.
Tucson had a two-touchdown lead in the 4th quarter, but failed to complete the game in the final moments which led to an overtime showdown against the Strike Force. San Diego went on to score on both of their attempts in overtime while the Skulls scored in their first drive, but couldn't answer the Strike Force in their second drive falling just short of tying the game.
Key Performers
Ramone Atkins - 18/26 pass attempts, 164 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception. 7 rushes for 21 yards.
Mike Jones - 19 rushes for 61 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns. 6 receptions for 42 yards.
Carrington Thompson - 5 receptions for 67 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Dylan Person - 6 receptions, 67 yards, 1 touchdown
Mike Minter - 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
1st Half
The first quarter of action started off with a quick strike from Tucson with
Ramone Atkins hitting Dylan Person for a score to give the Skulls a 7-0 early. After that, Tucson's offense struggled to find their rhythm and were held scoreless for the remainder of the 1st quarter and well into the 2nd quarter. The defense did a solid job of keeping Tucson in the game by holding San Diego to just 16 first-half points.
Tucson finally answered with a
Mike Jones touchdown with just seven seconds remaining in the 1st half to make it a 16-14 ball game heading into the half.
San Diego dominated the first half in total yardage with 103 to Tucson's 52. Ultimately Tucson was very fortunate to only trail by
2nd Half
Tucson's defense got a stop (missed San Diego field goal) to retake possession immediately early in the 3rd quarter and regain some momentum. They quickly followed that with a 4 and out of their own giving San Diego the ball in prime field position.
Tucson's offense turned it up a notch with consecutive touchdowns to storm back and take a 30-23 lead after a pair of successful two-point conversions on each of those touchdowns.
Another score from Atkins to Thompson early in the 4th extended their lead to fourteen, as they took a 37-23 edge with 12 minutes remaining.
San Diego responded with a score of their own to cut the lead to 37-31 with 5:33 remaining in the ballgame. From there, San Diego and Tucson traded a pair of touchdowns, which put the score at 44-37 with Tucson leading in the final moments. The Strike Force launched a desperation hail mary that was tapped into the air by a Sugar Skulls player and landed right in the clutches of a Strike Force receiver for the score. The extra point attempt was off and the game headed to overtime.
San Diego went on to score on both of their attempts in overtime while the Skulls scored in their first drive, but couldn't answer the Strike Force in their second drive falling just short of tying the game.
Tucson will enter a bye week before hosting the Northern Arizona Wranglers at Tucson Arena next Saturday night.
