IFL Northern Arizona Wranglers

Northern Arizona Wranglers Falter In Fourth Quarter, Lose To Tucson Sugar Skulls 42-28

June 25, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Northern Arizona Wranglers News Release


Northern Arizona Wranglers fly in to make a tackle against the Tucson Sugar Skulls
Northern Arizona Wranglers fly in to make a tackle against the Tucson Sugar Skulls
(Northern Arizona Wranglers, Credit: Blushing Cactus Photography)

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Northern Arizona Wranglers struggled to overcome their offensive woes on Saturday evening, and lost to the Frisco Fighters by a score of 37-29.

Saturday evening's game in Prescott Valley, Ariz., began with the Sugar Skulls taking a 3-0 lead with a successful field goa on their first drive. On the following possession, Wranglers kicker Conor Mangan nailed a 31-yard field goal to make the game's score even at three apiece. On the third drive of the game, the Tucson Sugar Skulls took a 10-3 lead with a touchdown. The Wranglers offense responded quickly with a touchdown pass from quarterback Garrett Kettle to wide receiver Glen Gibbons Jr. The first quarter ended with the Wranglers trailing by one point due to a missed point after attempt.

The Wranglers began the second quarter behind by one point with their defense on the field. On the first play of the quarter, Wranglers defensive end JaQuan Artis forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive back Kishawn Walker. Kettle threw a dart to wide receiver Ryan Wisniewski for the 31-yard touchdown just five plays into the Wranglers possession. Mangan nailed a successful dropkick on the PAT, giving the Wranglers two additional points. The Wranglers were suddenly leading the contest by a score of 17-10. The first half of the game closed with a momentum swing in favor of the Sugar Skulls. The Wranglers surrendered an offensive turnover and 10 points to the Sugar Skulls to close the game's opening half.

The Wranglers entered the locker room at halftime behind the Sugar Skulls, by a score of 20-17.

The Wranglers opened the third quarter with another successful field goal from Mangan, evening the score at 20 apiece. The Wranglers surrendered a Sugar Skulls touchdown, followed by a one-point rouge on the kickoff when Wranglers wide receiver Jacob Moss was tackled in his own end zone. The Wranglers offense answered the bell with an impressive 15-yard touchdown run from Jarrod Ware Jr. The Wranglers were able to tie the game at 28 apiece with another successful two-point drop kick on the PAT from Mangan. The third quarter would end with the game tied, and the Sugar Skulls in possession of the football.

After Tucson scored a touchdown to open the game's final quarter, the Wranglers offense had no more responses. The Wranglers fell flat in the fourth quarter after hanging with the Sugar Skulls during the rest of the battle. The closing quarter of the showdown consisted of two Sugar Skulls touchdowns, and three turnovers for the Wranglers offense. Kettle threw an interception, and the Wranglers offense turned the ball over on downs twice after quarterback Nick Watson entered the game.

The Wranglers fell short in the closing quarter of this important Western Conference contest, losing to the Sugar Skulls by a score of 42-28. The Wranglers are entering a bye week late in the season and will not play next weekend. Northern Arizona falls to a 6-7 record on the 2023 season and remains slotted for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Indoor Football League's Western Conference. After the bye week, the Wranglers will play their final home game against the Massachusetts Pirates before closing their season in Phoenix, Ariz. against the Arizona Rattlers. The 2023 IFL Playoffs are still wide open, and the Wranglers will need to close the season with a win or two to stay ahead of the teams behind them, and punch their ticket to the postseason.

The Northern Arizona Wranglers 2023 home games, with dates and matchups and results, are listed below.

Saturday, March 25th, 6:05 P.M. vs Duke City Gladiators LOSS, 43-35

Saturday, April 1st, 6:05 P.M. vs Vegas Knight Hawks WIN, 48-42

Sunday, April 16th, 3:05 P.M. vs San Diego Strike Force WIN, 48-9

Saturday, May 13th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers WIN, 35-34

Saturday, June 3rd, 6:05 P.M. vs Arizona Rattlers LOSS, 63-62

Saturday, June 17th, 6:05 P.M. vs Frisco Fighters LOSS, 37-29

Saturday, June 24th, 6:05 P.M. vs Tucson Sugar Skulls LOSS, 42-28

Saturday, July 8th, 6:05 P.M. vs Massachusetts Pirates




Images from this story

Northern Arizona Wranglers fly in to make a tackle against the Tucson Sugar Skulls
Northern Arizona Wranglers fly in to make a tackle against the Tucson Sugar Skulls
(Blushing Cactus Photography)		   



Indoor Football League Stories from June 25, 2023


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