TUCSON, Ariz. – The Tucson Sugar Skulls (3-7) exploded in the first half for 27 points against the Bismarck Bucks (6-6) to bring home their second-straight home win in a 34-27 thriller at the Tucson Convention Center on Saturday night.

The win marks the second straight victory at home for the Sugar Skulls.

Murphy Magic

After joining the team on Tuesday, QB Cory Murphy led the Sugar Skulls to their third win of the season with multiple jaw-dropping touchdown runs. Murphy finished with 84 rushing yards and three TDs on the ground, including a jaw dropping 41-yard run on the second offensive play of the game.

The rushing game did the heavy lifting offensively as the team combined for 118 total yards on the ground. Through the air, the Skulls only completed five passes between QB Demry Croft and Murphy for 54 passing yards in the win going 5 for 12.

Hard-Hitting Harley

Linebacker Jajuan Harley destroyed the Bucks offensive rhythm as he tallied a team-high 10 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.

Harley also provided the first multi-sack performance for the Sugar Skulls this season, and he made the game-sealing tackle as he blitzed opposing QB Kenyatte Allen on the final play of the game with three seconds remaining.

Defensive back Matt Elam made a huge impact as well. Elam stripped the football from Allen in the second quarter and then recovered the ball in the end zone for the first defensive TD of the season for the Sugar Skulls.

The defense finished with two turnovers and forced multiple missed field goal attempts to keep the Bucks down and give the defense a season-best of 27 points allowed.

Sneaky Special Teams

The Sugar Skulls special teams showed up at home Saturday. The defense recovered an onside kick in the first half and pulled off their own successful onside kick for the first time this season in the fourth quarter. The Bucks would be successful in recovering an onside attempt late in the fourth but were stopped by Harley and the defense as time expired deep in Sugar Skulls territory.

After getting off the plane yesterday, kicker Kevin Goessling helped to pin the Bucks deep in their own territory all game long and averaged 41.8 yards per kickoff. Although it was a shaky performance for field goal attempts (0-4), Goessling nailed three out of four PATs to help push the Skulls to a win.

Revenge on the Wranglers

The Sugar Skulls host the Northern Arizona Wranglers (1-9) in their second meeting of the season on Saturday. The Wranglers suffered a 33-30 loss to the Frisco Fighters on the road Saturday.

Northern Arizona squeaked by the Sugar Skulls in their first meeting of the season (48-44) by way of a go-ahead TD as the clock expired back on June 26. Marking its first win in franchise history.

Kickoff is set for July 31 at 6:05 p.m. MST at the Tucson Convention Center.