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Although the win fell on Back's 46th birthday and it was the Sugar Skulls' first win over its in-state rival in Tucson in three years, Back wanted to enjoy the moment, but not celebrate the feat like a postseason victory. 

"'Let's act like we've done this before,'" Back told his team. "I'm used to winning 14 or 15 games a season. We've won four games (in Tucson) in two seasons. We have to have a confidence that it's what we're supposed to be doing. It's supposed to feel like that after games. We don't need to be surprised that we beat the Rattlers.

"It's a great accomplishment, but at the same time, before we came to Tucson, we had an 8-4 record against the Rattlers. It's just something that you have to believe and understand that if you're not confident you can't do this game in and game out, then you're going to be a one-shot wonder."

Tucson (2-3) will have a chance to show its win over the defending IFL champion wasn't a fluke, when the Sugar Skulls host the Massachusetts Pirates (2-3) on Saturday at Tucson Arena. 

"The game plan was there and our guys believed they could do it," Back said of the win over Arizona. "It's something we can build off of. We can't go into the next game and lay a goose egg or else that win stands for something. ... If we don't handle business against Massachusetts, it's all for nothing." 

Back joined "Spears & Ali" on ESPN Tucson this week to talk about the latest with the Sugar Skulls and how the win over the Rattlers could be a turning point for Tucson. Here's part of that interview: 

Sugar Skulls wide receiver Larry "Tripp" Harrington, who is also the backup quarterback and holder on field goals, had three touchdowns in the win over the Rattlers. How much has the IFL veteran influenced your offense?  

A: "When he does something right, we call him Tripp. When he does something wrong, we call him Larry. It's about as bad as Bill. Larry and Bill, uncreative names our parents gave us. But I watched him last year with the Frisco Fighters and you just knew he was a player that could be a star in the league. He's a damn good quarterback. If Jorge wasn't here, he'd be our quarterback. ... Once he was available, I kept messaging the Arizona Rattlers' head coach about what they were doing with Tripp.

"A lot of teams don't look at him for what he is, a Swiss-Army knife. He can return, he can hold, he can play quarterback, he can receive and run great routes, he catches the ball great. He can be a superstar in the league for us. He reminds me of a player in the past, (wide receiver) Jordan Jolly, who was an absolute stud in the IFL and can play the game well. We're going to hang our hat on him and utilize every talent he has throughout the season." 

Harrington and quarterback Jorge Reyna came to Tucson together three weeks ago. How much has their connection impacted the Sugar Skulls?

A: "It's funny, they'll call each other out in our group messages. They go at each other in practice in a joking manner. Even in the game against Arizona, Tripp said, 'Hey, look for me. So-and-so can't guard and I'm going to be open.' A lot of the plays we ran, we moved Tripp to the route we wanted to throw to. It's a comfort level knowing we've got a guy that is going to get open and knows the offense.

"(Harrington) was in my offense last season, because the Frisco Fighters head coach last year ran my exact playbook, same terminology and didn't change a thing about it, which was great for me, because as soon as Tripp got here, he was coaching up the receivers. He remembered the terminology, the route tree and he's an extension of the coaching staff on the field."

What do you think your team showed in the last week as far as mental fortitude and the will to win in crunch time?

A: "We've gotta give our defense a lot of credit. In that game, our defense held the Rattlers to 20 points under their average on the season. Our defense, despite our record the last two seasons, has been Top 3 in the league. ... The defense has been a catalyst.

"Hopefully, this fourth quarter of outscoring (the Rattlers) 22-0, hopefully we can carry it over to the next game and get that home momentum offensively moving forward. ... The chemistry this defense has, it's pretty awesome. ... But offensively, when it's rolling, it's like a hurricane: you know it's coming and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it, but we haven't gotten to that point in two seasons. ... I'm hopeful the guys can pull the rope the right direction and we can get the win this week."

Extra points

– Sugar Skulls kicker Kevin Macias, who hit the go-ahead field goal with one second remaining in the fourth quarter, was named IFL Special Teams Player of the Week. Macias made three of his five field-goal attempts and all three PATs against the Rattlers. 

– Former Sugar Skulls defensive back Matt Elam returns to Tucson as an opponent. Elam played for the Sugar Skulls in the franchise's inaugural season in 2019. Elam was a former first-round draft choice by the Baltimore Ravens after a standout career with the Florida Gators. Elam has 17 tackles and three pass breakups this season. 

– Saturday will mark the second time the Sugar Skulls and Pirates have faced each other. The first meeting was in 2021, when the Pirates escaped with a 37-34 win over the Sugar Skulls in Tucson. Pirates kicker Josh Gable, who returns on Saturday, made a 46-yard field goal as time expired.