NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS WIN 34-32 THRILLER OVER TUCSON SUGAR SKULLS
TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Northern Arizona Wranglers rallied back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Tucson Sugar Skulls, and came out victorious by a final score of 34-32.
The Wranglers earned their fifth consecutive victory on Saturday night, defeating the Sugar Skulls for the second time in the last three weeks. This victory brings the Wranglers to an impressive 8-2 record on the season. This game was a tremendous battle until the final whistle.
The Sugar Skulls scored on their opening possession of the game, taking an early 7-0 lead. The Wranglers responded quickly with a complete drive capped off with a two-yard touchdown run from running back Israel Tucker. The Sugar Skulls scored once again, but had a botched snap on the point after attempt, bringing their lead to 13-7 over the Wranglers early. The Wranglers showed resiliency after turning the ball over in the first quarter. As defensive end JaQuan Artis was bringing down Sugar Skulls quarterback Daquan Neal for the safety in his own end zone, Neal managed to get rid of the ball. The referees called intentional grounding on Neal, giving the Wranglers the safety. The first quarter ended with the Wranglers facing a 13-9 deficit.
Early in the second quarter, the Sugar Skulls would expand their lead to 11 points, with the score sitting at 20-9. Tucker had a tremendous kick return for the Wranglers, taking it down to the Sugar Skulls 20-yard line. Northern Arizona was in the end zone within the next four offensive plays. Wranglers quarterback Kaleb Barker threw a three-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ulice Gillard, bringing the score to 20-15. Tucson would score once more, extending their lead back to 11 points. The first half would come to a close after the Wranglers failed to score on a 4th and goal situation. The Wranglers were down by a score of 26-15 at halftime.
To start the 3rd quarter, the Wranglers would cut into the Sugar Skulls lead once again, after a touchdown run from Barker. The Sugar Skulls would extend the lead right back to 11 points, before the third quarter ended. The Wranglers entered the 4th quarter down by 11 points, as they seemed to be down by that exact margin for most of the game.
The Wranglers swung the momentum of the game their way in the fourth quarter. It started with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Barker to wide receiver Glen Gibbons Jr. On the ensuing possession, Wranglers defensive end JaQuan Artis came out with a fumble recovery at the Northern Arizona four-yard line. The Wranglers put together a great drive, and kicker Brandon Fischer made a 21-yard field goal to bring the deficit to just one point. The Wranglers defense came up with yet another tremendous stop, when defensive back Tevin Homer broke up a pass in the end zone on 4th and goal. The Wranglers were left with 1:36 on the clock and had to march from their own eight-yard line. Wranglers wide receiver Jerrime Neal made an incredible diving catch to put the Wranglers in field goal range for Fischer. The 24-yard field goal was right down the middle for Fischer, giving the Wranglers their first lead of the game, with just three seconds left on the clock.
With the win, the Wranglers ended the regular season series against the Sugar Skulls with a 2-1 record. They have now won five straight games, and look to extend this winning streak to six. Next week, the Wranglers head to San Diego, Calif., to take on the San Diego Strike Force.
The Northern Arizona Wranglers home schedule, with the dates, matchups, and results, is below:
Saturday, March 26th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers WIN 49-20
Saturday, April 2nd, 6:05 P.M. vs San Diego Strike Force WIN 45-28
Saturday, April 16th, 6:05 P.M. vs Vegas Knight Hawks WIN 30-20
Saturday, May 14, 6:05 P.M. vs Tucson Sugar Skulls WIN 36-21
Saturday, May 21st, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers WIN 52-27
Saturday, June 11th, 6:05 P.M. vs Arizona Rattlers
Saturday, June 25th, 6:05 P.M. vs Duke City Gladiators
Saturday, July 9th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bismarck Bucks
Use the link below to purchase your single game tickets. You can also purchase single game tickets by visiting the Findlay Toyota Center box office.
https://www.ticketmaster.com/northern-arizona-wranglers-tickets/artist/2769030