
Game Preview: Sugar Skulls at Rattlers
June 23, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tucson Sugar Skulls News Release
TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls will be looking to clinch a season sweep of their in-state rival Arizona Rattlers on Saturday in Phoenix.
The Sugar Skulls took down the Rattlers at the Boneyard on May 7 in a 74-63 shootout. A win against the Rattlers would secure the Skulls a playoff berth.
Deja vu?
Not much has changed since the last time these two teams clashed. Arizona and Tucson still both rank in the top two in total points scored, total touchdowns scored and points per game in the IFL in 2022. The Rattlers rank first in the IFL in yards per play as well, while the Sugar Skulls are third.
While the IFL's arguably top two quarterbacks are facing off, both offenses have remained quite balanced in 2022. Both Arizona and Tucson's passing and rushing attacks rank within the top six of the league in their respective rankings.
Stick to the game plan
While Tucson's defense has struggled in 2022, its offense was able to overpower the IFL's best defense at the time against Arizona on May 7 and turn the game into a shootout. The Rattlers' defense has slightly slipped in recent weeks - now ranking second in points allowed per game - which makes another high-scoring affair likely.
The Sugar Skulls had success with a balanced offensive attack last time out against Arizona. They ran the ball 20 times - 10 times equally between quarterback Daquan Neal and running back Mike Jones. They each scored twice. Neal also threw the ball 15 times, throwing for more touchdowns (five) than he did incompletions (three).
Ride the momentum
Arizona's offense presents a challenge to the Sugar Skulls' defense, which has given up the most passing touchdowns in the league in 2022. But lately, Tucson's unit has found a welcomed stride. In their last three games, the Sugar Skulls have held opponents to their three lowest point totals of the year, which includes a season-low total of 32 to the Vegas Knight Hawks last weekend.
If Tucson can put together a similar performance on Saturday night, it will be in good shape to sweep the Rattlers in the regular season in 2022.
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