On Saturday evening, the Wranglers battled to the very end of the game, but couldn't quite catch the Sugar Skulls, losing in a high scoring shootout by a score of 72-62. Early in the second quarter, the Wranglers fell behind 21-7. After this initial two-touchdown deficit, the Wranglers were seemingly playing catchup during the entirety of the game. The Sugar Skulls put up their season high in points, against a Wranglers defense that has looked dominant this season to this point.
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The Wranglers pulled the Sugar Skulls lead down to just a single point with 2:36 left before halftime, thanks to two consecutive touchdowns from wide receiver
Quentin Randolph.
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The lead on the scoreboard for the Sugar Skulls would shrink, and regenerate even faster. The Sugar Skulls scored two straight touchdowns inside of the last two minutes of the second quarter. The first, on offense from running back Mike Jones, and the next, an interception returned for a touchdown by defensive lineman Maurice Jackson. Wranglers quarterback
Kaleb Barker led the offense down the field in under 23 seconds. Barker threw a tremendous pass on the run, to wide receiver
Glen Gibbons Jr., who ran it into the endzone for the 25-yard score to end the first half.
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The Wranglers were down 42-33 at the half.
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Northern Arizona came out swinging again in the second half, with a touchdown and two-point conversion on their opening possession, scored by who else? Wide receiver
Quentin Randolph, who cut the deficit back down to two points for the Wranglers, as he made an incredible diving catch over the dasher pad wall.
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The Sugar Skulls scored again, expanding their lead to eight, after the Wranglers blocked their point after attempt. The Wranglers responded with another touchdown from Randolph, cutting the Sugar Skulls lead to one, 48-47.
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The gap widened for the Sugar Skulls once again, when they took an 11-point lead, and the Wranglers responded for the final time by cutting that lead down to a 65-62 score. After this point, Sugar Skulls running back Mike Jones found the end zone on a six-yard rush, to ultimately put the nail in the coffin for the Wranglers.
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The offense was the story of the game this week for the Wranglers, as they put up a franchise record 62 points. Quarterback
Kaleb Barker threw for 226 yards and seven touchdown passes. Barker also added 53 yards rushing. Randolph put up the most impressive performance from a single Wranglers player in franchise history. Randolph scored seven total touchdowns on Saturday night, five receiving, and two on the ground. This phenomenal performance from Randolph makes him a shoo-in for the Indoor Football League's Offensive Player of the Week award.
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The Wranglers will head to San Jose, Calif., to face the Bay Area Panthers for the second time this season. In their previous matchup with the Panthers, the Wranglers pulled off their first victory of the season, winning handedly, by a score of 49-20. The Wranglers will be looking to bounce back and earn their first victory on the road next Sunday.
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Don't forget to head over to Hideout Bar on Sunday, May 1st to watch this game with other Wranglers fans!
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      The Northern Arizona Wranglers home schedule is set, with the dates and matchups below:
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Saturday March 26th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers       WIN 49-20
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Saturday April 2nd, 6:05 P.M. vs San Diego Strike Force   WIN 45-28
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Saturday April 16th, 6:05 P.M. vs Vegas Knight Hawks   WIN 30-20
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Saturday May 14, 6:05 P.M. vs Tucson Sugar Skulls
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Saturday May 21st, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers
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Saturday June 11th, 6:05 P.M. vs Arizona Rattlers
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Saturday June 25th, 6:05 P.M. vs Duke City Gladiators
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Saturday July 9th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bismarck Bucks
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Use the link below to purchase your single game tickets. You can also purchase single game tickets by calling the Findlay Toyota Center box office at (928) 772-1819.
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https://www.ticketmaster.com/northern-arizona-wranglers-tickets/artist/2769030
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2022 Wranglers season tickets are now on sale. To find your seats, call a NAZ Wranglers representative at (928) 379-5581, or email
katherynmcknight@nazwranglers.com for more information.
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Written by: Tucker Welch
Edited by: Ed Cole