Box Score TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls were able to shake off a tough loss at home last week against Vegas and get the job done against Duke City on the road, 59-51.

The win clinches Tucson its third playoff appearance in four seasons of action since joining the IFL in 2019. A win next week against Green Bay would lock them into the 3rd seed at worst, with a mathematical chance of moving up to number two if Bay Area drops their remaining games.

Tucson improves to 6-1 on the road this season in what was their final road game of the regular season. 

Skulls Up

The Sugar Skulls got off to a hot start, scoring the game's first two touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead with 5:32 left in the opening quarter. Duke City quickly answered back with a touchdown of their own followed by an Ernesto Lacayo deuce to head into the second quarter with the score sitting at 14-9, Tucson. 

Mike Jones scored the next two Sugar Skulls' touchdowns to give Tucson a 28-16 with 2:25 left in the half. Next, right before halftime, Carrington Thompson hauled in a 19-yard pass from Ramone Atkins to give the Skulls a 35-22 lead after 30 minutes of play.

Finish Strong

The Skulls were hit with a Demry Croft touchdown to open the second half to cut the lead down to just 6. A seven-yard Benjamin Jones run followed by the extra point from Michael Hall put Tucson back on top in the back-and-forth affair. 

A Michael Hall field goal gave the Sugar Skulls a 45-38 lead after a Gladiators touchdown and another successful deuce to cut into the lead. 

Tucson's defense got a massive takeaway thanks to Rashie Hodge's interception, leading to another Skulls touchdown to extend the lead back to 14, 52-38. The teams would trade touchdowns back and forth yet again to close the game, finally ending with Tucson running the clock out.

Ramone Atkins would go on to defeat his former squad by a count of 59-52. 

Up Next?

At home versus Green Bay in the regular season finale. Kickoff is this Saturday, July 15th, and 6:05 pm local time.