The Wranglers began this Western Conference battle on defense, and forced the Sugar Skulls to attempt a field goal, in which they missed. On the Wranglers first offensive drive, quarterback Joshua Jones located wide receiver John Maldonado open for a short completion. Maldonado took this reception 34-yards for the touchdown after evading a few Sugar Skulls defenders. The Sugar Skulls kicked a successful field goal on their ensuing possession. The Wranglers offense scored in just one play with a long pass from Jones to wide receiver Gene Coleman II, who made an incredible diving catch in the end zone. Wranglers kicker Axel Perez nailed the drop kick on the point after attempt, and the Wranglers led by a score of 15-3. The Sugar Skulls offense responded with a touchdown of their own, and the first quarter ended with the Wranglers in front of the Sugar Skulls by a score of 15-9.
 
The Wranglers opened the second quarter on offense and overcame a 4^th and five from their own eight-yard line with a 42-yard touchdown strike from Jones to wide receiver Arsiah McCorker. The Wranglers started to take command early in the quarter, as defensive back Travion Banks nabbed an interception on the next drive. The Wranglers offense took advantage of the turnover with another touchdown pass from Jones, this time to wide receiver Tosin Oyekanmi who made a contested grab in the back of the end zone. Northern Arizona jumped out to a 20-point lead in a flash, but Tucson kept fighting. This quarter was packed with action, and the next four drives consisted of each team going blow for blow, scoring two touchdowns apiece. Jones added two more touchdown passes, one to Maldonado, and another wide receiver Kobay White. Maldonado was hit into the air while jumping up for the grab and still held on, while White contorted his body in coverage and caught the back shoulder touchdown.
 
The Wranglers entered the locker room at halftime with a 44-23 lead over the Sugar Skulls. This was the most thrilling and complete half of dominating football we have seen from the Wranglers this season.
 
Northern Arizona's offense came out to start the second half and turned the ball over on downs for the first time in the game. The Sugar Skulls started to crawl back into the game during the third quarter, after scoring two touchdowns and blocking a Wranglers field goal attempt between those two possessions. The Wranglers still led by seven points, and Perez hit a field goal to extend their lead back to ten points. The quarter ended with the Wranglers in front of the Sugar Skulls by a score of 47-37.
 
The Sugar Skulls opened the final quarter on offense and scored a touchdown which left the Wranglers with a three-point lead early in the game's final quarter. The Wranglers offense turned the ball over on downs on the following possession, and the energy inside the Findlay Toyota Center was beginning to dwindle. The Wranglers defense came up big, reigniting the crowd with a fumble recovery. Jones threw a 43-yard bomb to Coleman II for his second touchdown grab of the day, and the Wranglers went up by nine points. Tucson's offense came storming back, tying the game at 53 apiece after a touchdown, successful PAT, and a deuce on the kickoff. The Wranglers offense gained possession of the ball with just under four minutes left. The Wranglers offense milked some clock and capped the drive off with a rushing touchdown from Jones. For the second consecutive week, the Wranglers win was sealed by a Banks interception, this time with just 16 seconds remaining in the game.
 
Northern Arizona held on to win this Western Conference showdown with Tucson by a score of 60-53. The Wranglers improved their record to 6-3 on the season and completed the three-game regular season sweep of the Sugar Skulls. Jones broke the Wranglers franchise record for total touchdowns in a single game, with eight total scores. Jones threw seven touchdowns to five different receivers and ran one in with his legs for the game winning score. Banks nabbed two interceptions including the game clincher at the end. The Wranglers will hit the road next weekend to take on the top team in the Indoor Football League's Western Conference. The Wranglers will take on the 8-1 Vegas Knight Hawks and will need to keep their foot on the gas during all four quarters to get a win.
 
The Northern Arizona Wranglers 2024 HOME games, with dates, matchups, and results are listed below. 
 
Saturday, March 16th, 6:05 P.M. vs Arizona Rattlers                    Loss 51-40
 
Saturday, March 30th, 6:05 P.M. vs Tucson Sugar Skulls          Win 54-48
 
Saturday, April 20th, 6:05 P.M. vs Duke City Gladiators            Win 39-23
 
Saturday, May 11th, 6:05 P.M. vs Bay Area Panthers                  Loss 39-36
 
Saturday, May 25th, 6:05 P.M. vs Tucson Sugar Skulls              Win 60-53
 
Sunday, June 23rd, 3:05 P.M. vs San Antonio Gunslingers 
 
Saturday, June 29th, 6:05 P.M. vs San Diego Strike Force 
 
Saturday, July 13th, 6:05 P.M. vs Vegas Knight Hawks 
 
Single Game Tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now! Visit the link below! 
 
https://www.ticketmaster.com/naz-wranglers-tickets/artist/2769030 
 
 For any Season Ticket inquiries, call us at 928-379-5581 
  
You can also email ticketdirector@nazwranglers.com 
 
 
Written by: Tucker Welch 
Edited by: Ed Cole 
 
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