Tucson Sugar Skulls Defeat New Mexico Chupacabras in Boneyard Showdown
Tucson, AZ – Tucson secured its third victory over the New Mexico Chupacabras, with a final score of 48-22. In a high-tension matchup, Tucson’s offense displayed incredible scoring ability as its defense fought relentlessly to deny New Mexico scoring opportunities. Quarterback Ja’rome Johnson once again proved his talent with consistent plays and accurate passes.
Skulls Come Out Swinging
Tucson opened the matchup strong as defensive back Aaron Jackson rushed the field 43 yards to secure a touchdown and set the tone in the opening moments of the game. Tucson’s defense fought hard to keep New Mexico from advancing as the Skull’s offense secured a second touchdown, bringing the score to 13-0. New Mexico responded with a touchdown and Tucson ended the quarter with a field goal, bringing the score to 16-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Skulls continued to bring the heat in the second quarter. Quarterback Ja’rome Johnson continued to display his talent with deliberate and successful offensive plays. Tucson secured another touchdown on an incredible pass from Johnson to wide receiver Jaivian Lofton. The Skulls’ defense successfully prevented New Mexico from scoring, strengthening Tucson’s lead and ending the first half with a score of 23-7.
Second Half Standoff
Both teams began the second half with increased momentum. New Mexico opened the quarter with a touchdown, looking to slim the lead held by Tucson. Tucson did not lose momentum, instead working to score two more touchdowns before the end of the quarter. In an electric moment, defensive lineman Rafiq Abdul-Wahid secured a touchdown for the Skulls by recovering a ball fumbled by New Mexico and rushing it to the end zone. New Mexico ended the quarter with a second touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to the Skulls. The third quarter ended with the Chupacabras trailing behind Tucson, the score 37-20.
The final quarter was a low-scoring standoff, as New Mexico did its best to hold back the Skull’s offense in a final attempt to even the score. Despite the Chupacabra’s effort, wide receiver Jaivian Lofton scored another touchdown for Tucson, bringing the Skull’s lead to 44-20. Kicker Ben Woodard secured a deuce, further boosting Tucson’s lead and heightening the energy of the Boneyard in the matchup’s final minutes. The game ended with a safety providing Tucson with an extra two points. The final score was 48-22, officially securing the fourth win of the season for the Sugar Skulls.
Up Next
Next up, the Tucson Sugar Skulls travel to Lee’s Family Forum to face the Vegas Night Hawks on June 13, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM MST. Don’t miss the action of the Boneyard! Secure your tickets now or tune in to support the Sugar Skulls as they continue the season.
PLAYERS MENTIONED
#7 Aaron Jackson
DB, 5’10, Veteran
#2 Ja’rome Johnson
QB, 6’0, Veteran
#4 Jaivian Lofton
WR, 6’2, 2
#10 Rafiq Abdul-Wahid
DL, 6’2, Veteran