
Tucson Hosts Bay Area
June 10, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tucson Sugar Skulls News Release
TUCSON - The Tucson Sugar Skulls will look to avenge their loss to the Northern Arizona Wranglers last week by taking on the Bay Area Panthers on Saturday.
The Panthers have lost 10 straight games after opening their season with a win over San Diego.
Offenses primed to take off in inaugural match
Saturday's contest between the Panthers and Sugar Skulls will be the first ever between the two. Tucson is 1-1 in 2022 against teams it has not ever faced before.
Despite the large difference in both teams' records, Tucson and Bay Area both have the chance to put up a large point total this weekend.
The Panthers own the IFL's worst defense by points allowed per game, while the Sugar Skulls are just ahead of them with the second-worst unit.
A much-needed break
Tucson had its bye week last week, which followed its 34-32 loss to the Wranglers. The Sugar Skulls have lost two of their last three games, both of which to Northern Arizona, and narrowly won a 69-65 shootout against San Diego in between the two losses.
In its two losses to the Wranglers, Tucson put up its two worst offensive showing of 2022, with 21 and 32 points scored respectively.
Perhaps last week's bye offers a chance to get the league's second-best offense by points scored back on track.
Neal a prominent threat for MVP
Sugar Skulls quarterback Daquan Neal has made his and his teammates' stats jump off the page in 2022.
In terms of his own production, Neal ranks No. 1 in the IFL's efficiency stat - and he's blowing the rest of the pack away. His closest contender is Rattlers' quarterback Drew Powell, who sits behind Neal in second place by 36.9 points.
The gap between Neal and Powell for first and second place is more than the gaps from second to ninth place combined.
Neal has also done a fantastic job of spreading the wealth when dropping back. Entering Week 14, Tucson's top two wide receivers in terms of yardage are separated by just one yard (Arthur Jackson with 423, Quinton Pedroza with 422).
Additionally, the Sugar Skulls' top two touchdown pass-catchers - Jackson and Carrington Thompson - have 12 and 11 touchdowns respectively.
• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...
Indoor Football League Stories from June 10, 2022
- Storm Look for Third-Straight Win - Sioux Falls Storm
- Fighters Giving Full Team Effort - Frisco Fighters
- Storm Look for Third-Straight Win - Sioux Falls Storm
- Pirates Look to Rebound against Blizzard - Massachusetts Pirates
- Tucson Hosts Bay Area - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- Battle for First Place in the Western Conference - Northern Arizona Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Tucson Sugar Skulls Stories
- Sugar Skulls Rally Late to Hand Rattlers First Loss of the Season
- Skulls Set for Redemption Battle in Rivalry Rematch with Rattlers
- Sugar Skulls Show Fight Early But Fall to Strike Force on the Road
- Tucson Aims for Second Straight Win at Frontwave Arena
- Sugar Skulls Earn First Win with Commanding Road Victory

