Box Score TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls fell in a close one by a final score of 40-34 on Saturday night.
They had their chance to secure a playoff spot with a victory at home, but will now take their 7-6 record on the road to Duke City as they look to seal their spot in the 2023 IFL Playoffs.
Key Performers
Ramone Atkins - 10/17 pass attempts, 104 passing yards, 61 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Mike Jones - 2 receptions, 31 receiving yards, 8 rushes, 35 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Carrington Thompson - 5 receptions, 55 receiving yards
Maurice Jackson - 9 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack
Rashie Hodge - 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass breakup
1st Half
The Skulls' first drive of the game resulted in a 10-yard rushing touchdown from veteran running back
Mike Jones to give Tucson an early 7-0 lead. Vegas quickly answered back to even it up at 7 a piece.
A missed extra point by Tucson along with a rogue made it a 13-8 game after Tucson's second touchdown with 6:09 left in the quarter. Tucson trailed by one point after the 1st quarter, 14-13.
An early 2nd quarter score got Tucson back on top, 20-14. They followed that drive with an impressive defensive stop deep in their own territory to regain possession.
Ramone Atkins' ground attack was strong, with over 53 rushing yards in the first 30 minutes of action. A
Benjamin Jones rushing touchdown extended the lead to 13 late in the 2nd.
The Skulls got a massive blocked field goal attempt with less than a minute remaining that was recovered by
Melik Owens to take to take possession back.
Heading into the half, Tucson led by a score of 27-14.
2nd Half
Vegas started with possession in the third quarter and took advantage with a
Daquan Neal rushing touchdown to open the scoring in the second half. In the following possession, Tucson was held short of their own endzone after a Knight Hawks stop with the score 27-21 Tucson.
Vegas then followed that up with another Neal rushing touchdown to cap off a drive that started deep in their own territory. The extra point was tipped and no good, knotting it up at 27 a piece heading into the fourth and final quarter.
In the final quarter, Vegas struck first with a score to re-take the lead, 34-27 with 6:42 remaining.
Ramone Atkins hit
Carrington Thompson for a pair of consecutive 14+ yard receptions to move the ball down the field in a decent field position. Atkins then hit
Dequan Dudley for a crucial score to even the game up at 34 after a successful PAT by
Michael Hall.
Vegas then took their time with their final drive, striking with just 9 seconds remaining to jump back ahead to a 6-point lead (40-34).
Benjamin Jones returned it and quickly dropped down to kill it with only two seconds coming off the clock. Their first play was a look at Thompson that went incomplete. 4 seconds remained.
That brought us to the final play of the game from the 25-yard line. The pass was batted down and incomplete, game over.
Up Next?
Tucson hits the road to Albuquerque for a battle against the Duke City Gladiators.
