Tucson, AZ- The Sugar Skulls went down in defeat on Saturday Night to the Fighters by a score of 35-18
Self-Inflicted Wounds
Give credit where credit is due—the Sugar Skulls' effort on the gridiron in tonight's bout cannot be questioned whatsoever. In fact, there was a brief moment during crunch time of the fourth quarter when it appeared that the game was there for the taking. Trailing Frisco 21-18 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Tucson found themselves five yards away from the end zone and a possible lead at their fingertips. Instead, the Skulls could not escape their own carelessness as they threw a back-breaking interception that ultimately proved to be the team's death sentence.
Despite issues with turnovers and penalties that haunt Tucson almost every week, head coach Billy Back was adamant after the game that the team is heading in the right direction and is taking the necessary steps to achieve vast improvement
The Best Offense is a Good Defense
In an up-and-down game filled with a roller coaster of emotions, the biggest takeaway could possibly have been Tucson's stingy defense. Without a doubt, the Sugar Skulls certainly flexed their muscles on the defensive side of the football and inflicted pain upon the Frisco offense all night long. Whether it was getting a consistent pass rush, plugging up running lanes, or putting the clamps down on the Frisco passing attack, it was an overall excellent showing for the Tucson defense.
Dual Strike
Although the loss to Frisco was demoralizing, it wasn't all bad! In addition to the defense excelling, the one-two punch of RB Devonte Sapp-Lynch and two-way star Mike Carrigan provided plenty of excitement inside the confines of Tucson Arena. In electrifying fashion, it was Sapp-Lynch who demonstrated his powerful running style by trucking tacklers, and Carrigan made play after play on offense, defense, and special teams. Even though the playoffs might be an afterthought at this point, Tucson can at least find some solace with these dynamic playmakers.
Up Next
Tucson is scheduled to host the San Diego Strike Force next Saturday, June 22nd, with kickoff slated at 6:05 PM.
