The Tucson Sugar Skulls aren’t eliminated from the IFL playoffs yet, but the margin for error is none entering the final two games of the season, after the Sugar Skulls fell to the Northern Arizona Wranglers, 61-55, Saturday night in Prescott Valley.
Northern Arizona (2-12), already eliminated from the postseason, snapped its six-game losing streak with the win over Tucson. Despite the loss, Tucson won the regular-season series against its in-state counterpart.
Sugar Skulls' wide receiver Jerome Buckner (4) heads for the house nearly untouched on kick return in the second quarter against San Antonio, Tucson, Ariz., May 31, 2025.
The Sugar Skulls went a combined 4-2 against the Wranglers and the Arizona Rattlers this season, the best record against their in-state rivals since joining the IFL in 2019. With Tucson’s loss to Northern Arizona, the Rattlers (9-5) officially punched their ticket to the postseason on Saturday.
In order to make the playoffs, Tucson (6-8) will have to beat the top-seeded Bay Area Panthers (11-3) and the Vegas Knight Hawks (8-6) for the fourth seed and the final spot in the IFL playoffs; Vegas will also have to lose its next two games.
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Up next: the Sugar Skulls (6-8) host the Bay Area Panthers at Tucson Arena on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. for the final home game of the season. Tucson’s regular-season finale will be against Vegas on Saturday, July 26 in Henderson, Nevada.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
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