Sugar Skulls Turn Tables on Rattlers

By Jay Gonzales ꟾ Rattlers Media

The Arizona Rattlers expected something different from the Tucson Sugar Skulls and they got it.

The Sugar Skulls rallied from a 14-0 first-half deficit to outlast Arizona, 35-28, at Tucson Arena. The loss, the Rattlers second straight and third in the last four games, dropped them to 7-5 overall, still in third place in the Western Conference and firmly in the playoff picture.

But with Saturday's result, the Sugar Skulls are only one game behind Arizona in the standings.

As it was in a one-point loss to Fishers Freight a week ago, turnovers, namely three interceptions by quarterback Drew Powell, were the Rattlers' downfall. The last, with under a minute left in the game, sealed the victory for Tucson.

Early on, the Rattlers looked as if they were bent on repeating the 66-14 loss they handed to Tucson in Glendale a month ago. The Rattlers scored on their first possession on a four-yard run by Powell.

Defensive back Davontae Merriweather picked off a pass, the first of his two on the night, on the Sugar Skulls' first possession and Arizona that that into a 14-0 lead when Powell hit Arland Bruce IV on a two-yard TD pass on fourth down.

The Rattlers had three possessions to extend the lead in the first half while the defense held the Sugar Skulls at bay. But all three possessions came up empty, two when the Rattlers could not convert on a fourth down and the third when time ran out with Arizona inside the Sugar Skulls' 10-yard-line. The Rattlers took a 14-10 lead into the halftime locker room.

Powell threw the first of his three interceptions on the Rattlers' first possession of the second half after Tucson opened the half with a TD run to take a 17-14 lead. Arizona held Tucson to a field goal after that turnover to keep it a one-score game, 20-14.

Back-to-back possessions by the Rattlers resulting in touchdowns were sandwiched around a Tucson scoring drive, and they held a 28-27 lead with 6:59 left in the game.

An interception followed by a go-ahead touchdown and a deuce by the Sugar Skulls gave Tucson a 35-28 lead. The Rattlers had got the ball back with 43 second left for one last chance to at least tie, but the final interception ended that.

The Rattlers head home next week to face the New Mexico Chupacabras. Arizona handled New Mexico, 61-15, in the first round of the IFL Cup on May 18. Kickoff at Desert Diamond Arena is 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Overnght streaming.