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IFL Northern Arizona Wranglers

Northern Arizona Wranglers Overpower Tucson Sugar Skulls

May 7, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Northern Arizona Wranglers News Release


Northern Arizona Wranglers corral a Tucson Sugar Skulls ballcarrier
Northern Arizona Wranglers corral a Tucson Sugar Skulls ballcarrier
(Northern Arizona Wranglers)

The Northern Arizona Wranglers earned a hard-fought victory on Saturday evening, defeating the Tucson Sugar Skulls by a score of 31-21, improving their record to 4-2 on the season.

Saturday night's game opened with a lengthy drive for the Sugar Skulls offense. Tucson held the ball for over six minutes to start the game, and ultimately came up with zero points. The Wranglers defense made a stop on fourth down during the first drive of the contest. On the Wranglers first offensive drive, quarterback Garrett Kettle located wide receiver Ryan Wisniewski for a 38-yard bomb. This brought the Wranglers inside the Sugar Skulls' 10-yard line, but then Northern Arizona coughed up the football with a fumble.

This fumble would be an early indication of the game to follow; a hard-fought contest that was full of turnovers from both teams. The Wranglers regained possession of the football when defensive back Daniel Wright ripped the ball from Sugar Skulls wide receiver Carrington Thompson's hands. The ball bounced into the air, and was scooped up by Northern Arizona defensive back Dorian Walker. Walker returned the fumble all the way to the Sugar Skulls one-yard line. The first quarter came to close with no points on the board, and with the Wranglers in possession of the football facing a 4th and goal.

To start the second quarter, Wranglers running back Jarrod Ware Jr. scored the game's first points with a rushing touchdown. On the following possession, Wranglers defensive back Travion Banks nabbed an interception, and returned it 40 yards down to the Tucson two-yard line. Ware Jr. scored his second touchdown of the day, but he caught a pass from Kettle to get this score. The Wranglers quickly jumped in front of the Sugar Skulls with a 14-0 lead after a scoreless opening quarter. The Sugar Skulls responded with a touchdown of their own. On the ensuing possession, Kettle scored a touchdown with his legs, and the Wranglers extended their lead once again.

The score was 21-6 in favor of Northern Arizona with just one minute to go in the second quarter. The Sugar Skulls scored a touchdown with 17 seconds left. The Wranglers offense got kicker Brandon Fischer in position to make a 19-yard field goal and go into halftime with a ten point lead. The Wranglers held that lead with the score at 24-14.

The third quarter began with the Wranglers receiving the second half kickoff. The Wranglers ended their first drive of the half with an interception. On the next possession, Wranglers defensive back Kishawn Walker snagged an interception, and ran it back for the touchdown. The touchdown was negated by an illegal blindside block as Walker returned the interception. The Wranglers were unable to capitalize on the turnover, as they a field goal after the interception by Walker. The Wranglers closed the third quarter with defensive back Dorian Walker recovering a Sugar Skulls fumble. The score remained 24-14 in favor of Northern Arizona.

The Sugar Skulls were able to force another turnover, and they scored a touchdown to bring the game closer, with a 24-21 score. The Wranglers offense turned the ball over yet again, and momentum felt like it was starting to slip for Northern Arizona. In the face of adversity, the Wranglers defense stepped up to swing things back in their favor. Wranglers defensive back Travion Banks caught his second interception of the day, and the Wranglers were back in the driver's seat. Off the turnover, Wranglers wide receiver Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman scored a rushing touchdown with less than one minute to go in the game. The Wranglers defense got one final fourth down stop and, the game ended with Kettle taking a knee.

The Wranglers fought hard to take down the team who was atop the Indoor Football League's Western Conference standings. The game was intense, and turnover filled.




Images from this story

Northern Arizona Wranglers corral a Tucson Sugar Skulls ballcarrier
Northern Arizona Wranglers corral a Tucson Sugar Skulls ballcarrier
   



Indoor Football League Stories from May 7, 2023


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