Tucson, AZ - Following a much-needed bye week, the Tucson Sugar Skulls are set to square off with the Arizona Rattlers. The Skulls are eager to find themselves in the win column for the second time this season after a 14-day break since their last action on the gridiron. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 6:05 PM MST at the Tucson Arena in Tucson, Arizona. 

Fresh Legs

Without a doubt, starting 1-4 is certainly not what head coach Billy Back had anticipated when he first accepted the job to be Tucson's next head coach. Given the cards that he has been dealt with, the Skulls could not have asked for a better time to have their bye-week. With three straight losses under their belts, the two-week hiatus surely gave the team a chance to reset mentally and rest up physically. Don't look now, but Tucson's biggest advantage heading into this in-state showdown is having those fresh legs that may come to fruition by the time the fourth quarter rolls around. 

A Nest of Vipers

Throughout the years, it has been the Rattlers that have slithered their way to victory over the Skulls more often than not.  Believe it or not, but the Rattlers are 8-2 in their last ten match ups versus the Sugar Skulls. Tucson will need to be extra careful when dealing with this nest of vipers on Saturday. 

Despite Arizona's historical dominance over Tucson in recent years, the Skulls have been trending in the right direction with wins over the Rattlers in two of their last three meetings on the gridiron. In their lone match up during the 2023 season, it was Tucson that came away with a 74-63 win over their northern counterparts. As long as the Skulls remain competitive versus the Rattlers as they have been in recent seasons, then only good things will occur in front of a packed Tucson Arena on Saturday night. 

Crunch Time

With the bye-week coming earlier than expected this year, it is the Sugar Skulls that now face the most daunting stretch of their regular season. After five games now in the books, Tucson will now have to play eleven consecutive games without being able to take a breath. Simply put, it is go-time for the Sugar Skulls, and since they are already behind the eight-ball with a 1-4 record, Tucson will have to dig deep and overcome plenty of obstacles to get back to the postseason. Only time will tell if the Skulls have it in them to prove that they are a resilient bunch.