RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Tucson Sugar Skulls couldn't overcome an early 19-0 deficit, and lost in Duke City on Saturday night. Trailing by as much as 20 points, the Sugar Skulls clawed their way back but ultimately, their defense had no answer for Duke City, falling by a score of 56-49.

After getting off to a 3-0 start in 2023, Tucson has now lost three straight games to fall to .500 on the season.  

Key Performers 

Ramone Atkins - 15/20, 128 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 39 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD
Mike Jones - 14 rushes, 55 yards, 4 rushing TD
Carrington Thompson - 4 receptions, 25 yards, 1 touchdown
Emetrious Scott - 4 receptions, 48 yards
Mike Minter - 6 tackles (5 solo, 1 assisted), 2 pass breakups 

1st Half

Nothing went the Sugar Skulls' way in the first quarter, as Duke City took the opening kickoff and went 38 yards into the end zone on 7 plays, scoring on a 1-yard rush by Gladiators quarterback Charles McCullum to take an early 7-0 lead.

Facing his former team, Sugar Skulls quarterback Ramone Atkins threw interceptions on the next two Tucson drives. Duke City promptly turned those turnovers into points by way of a field goal, a deuce, and a touchdown pass to take a 19-0 lead.

Tucson found some life late in the second quarter, as Mike Jones and Ramone Atkins both scored on short touchdown rushes, but another Gladiators trip to the end zone made the score 26-14 at halftime. 

2nd Half

On the Sugar Skulls first possession of the second half, they drove 45 yards in 5 plays, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown connection from Atkins to wide receiver Carrington Thompson. Tucson had closed the gap to seven points, trailing 28-21.

However, the Sugar Skulls' defense could not harness that momentum, surrendering a touchdown reception on the very next Duke City drive from McCullum to Troy Evans.

The two teams would trade touchdowns on each of their next three drives, and Mike Jones plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run -- his fourth of the night -- with just 51 seconds to play. However, Tucson failed to regain possession and lost, 56-49. 

Up Next?

Tucson returns home on May 20th to face the Sioux Falls Storm in the two team's first-ever regular season matchup. 

Back in their inaugural season of 2019, the Sugar Skulls were defeated 50-47 on the road by the Storm during the first round of that season's IFL Playoffs.

The game will take place at 6:05pm at Tucson Arena.