The Tucson Sugar Skulls were determined to show their win over the Arizona Rattlers last weekend wasn’t a fluke.
Tucson doubled-down on its two-game home stand with a 47-26 win over the Massachusetts Pirates Saturday night at Tucson Arena.
The Sugar Skulls’ (3-3) win on Saturday officially put them past their season win total from last season, when they had a franchise-worst 2-14 record. It’s the first time Tucson won back-to-back games since July of 2023.
Sugar Skulls defensive lineman Djimon Brooks (44) jars the ball out of the hand of Massachusetts quarterback Kenji Bahar (11) setting off a scramble for the fumble that the Skulls eventually recovered to finish off the Pirates in the last minute of the fourth quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
“We had to let people know this wasn’t a fluke,” said Sugar Skulls running back Jamyest Williams. “This was a big game for us to go up in the rankings. We needed this game. If we didn’t win this game, last week would’ve been a fluke.”
Despite Tucson quarterback Jorge Reyna tossing two interceptions on the first two drives, the Sugar Skulls scored first with an interception returned for a touchdown by defensive back Ahmad Lyons, who front-flipped across the goal line. Lyons also recovered a fumble to end the game.
“I’ve always wanted to a flip after a pick-six,” Lyons said. “That was my first pick-six since high school, so I just wanted to add a little celebration to my pick-six.”
Tucson head coach Billy Back called Lyons, who also had an interception late against the Arizona Rattlers last week, a “spark plug” for the Sugar Skulls defense.
“That pick-six ignited us and that front flip he did was extra special,” Back said. “He’s been a spark plug when we need him.”
After a pair of rushing touchdowns by Williams and a failed two-point conversion, the Sugar Skulls led Massachusetts 19-14 at halftime.
Tucson took a two-possession lead after wide receiver Jerome Buckner returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. With a 26-14 lead, Tucson’s defense forced its second turnover on downs inside the 10-yard line on the following possession.
Reyna threw a pick-six in the third quarter, but the touchdown was nixed due to an illegal blindside hit on the Pirates. Tucson marched down the field and capped the drive with a Williams rushing touchdown to extend its lead to 33-14. Williams is in his first season with the Sugar Skulls and has taken over over starting running back duties as Davonte Sapp-Lynch recovers from an injury.
Williams played defensive back for the South Carolina Gamecocks, before finishing his college career as a running back at Georgia State.
“He’s a little water bug for us,” Back said of Williams. “He’s so fast, you have to tell him to slow down. ... He’s just a football player. ... Jam is a stud.”
Tempers flared at the end of the drive when Pirates co-owner Jawad Yatim confronted the officials and was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct. Yatim was ejected from the game.
Sugar Skulls quarterback Jorge Reyna (11) gets just enough time behind the blocking of offensive lineman Dallas Reins (75) to get off a first down pass against Massachusetts in the fourth quarter of their IFL game, in Tucson on May 10.
Pirates running back Pooka Williams, who is the fifth leading rusher in the IFL this season, and quarterback Kenji Bahar scored Massachusetts’ only two touchdowns, but Tucson countered every Pirates touchdown with a score, including a touchdown catch by Tucson native and former Arizona Wildcat Drew Dixon with a minute left in the game.
In the fourth quarter, Sugar Skills wide receiver Tripp Harrington extended his touchdown streak to four games.
Up next: Tucson enters a shortened week and will face the Bay Area Panthers at SAP Center in San Jose, California on Friday at 7:05 p.m., before returning home for back-to-back home games against the San Antonio Gunslingers (May 31) and the San Diego Strike Force (June 7).
Tucson is fourth in the IFL Western Conference standings behind the Rattlers (5-1), Panthers (4-2) and the Vegas Knight Hawks (4-2).
“We gotta get something going on the road,” Back said. “I think a good showing this week will boost our confidence more. Our guys can’t get complacent with this win. It’s just the third win this season. We have a chance to get above .500 with a win and get back into the playoff race, and Bay Area is the next game.”
Photos: Sugar Skulls take down Massachusetts, IFL
Sugar Skulls defensive lineman Djimon Brooks (44) jars the ball out of the hand of Massachusetts quarterback Kenji Bahar (11) setting off a scramble for the fumble that the Skulls eventually recovered to finish off the Pirates in the last minute of the fourth quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls quarterback Jorge Reyna (11) gets just enough time behind the blocking of offensive lineman Dallas Reins (75) to get off a first down pass against Massachusetts in the fourth quarter of their IFL game in Tucson on May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls linebacker De'Aundre Cruz (24) gestures skyward as he runs onto the field during his introduction before their game against Massachusetts, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls running back Jamyest Williams gets hoisted in the air by offensive lineman Nymonta Doucoure after he plowed his way into the end zone in the second quarter against Massachusetts in Tucson on May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls defensive back Brion Murray (6), left, and defensive lineman Nyles Gaddy (15) harass Massachusetts running back Pooka Williams (7) behind the line helping drop him for a loss in the first quarter of their IFL game, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Massachusetts defensive back Matt Elam (5) gets mobbed after coming down with an interception in the first quarter of their IFL game against the Sugar Skulls, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls defensive back Tariq Bracy (3) gets enough of Massachusetts wide receiver Teo Redding (8) to keep him from making the one-hand catch in the first quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
The protection breaks down and Sugar Skulls quarterback Jorge Reyna (11) gets swarmed for a sack in the second quarter of the game against Massachusetts, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Massachusetts running back Pooka Williams (7) is able to slip the grip of Sugar Skulls defensive back Ahmad Lyons (21) and tack on more yards on his run in the second quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls defensive back Ahmad Lyons (21) wraps up Massachusetts wide receiver Isaac Zico (88) on a kick-off return in the second quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls wide receiver Alphonso Taylor (9) slips by the diving tackle attempt from Massachusetts defensive back Tye Smith (27) in the third quarter of their IFL game Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
A fan welcomes Sugar Skulls running back Jamyest Williams (20) back for the second half of the team’s game against Massachusetts in Tucson on May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls quarterback Jorge Reyna (11) struggles to get out of the end zone and avoid the safety as the pocket collapse on him in the third quarter against Massachusetts, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Massachusetts defensive back Matt Elam (5) trips up Sugar Skulls quarterback Jorge Reyna (11) but not before his keeper earns a first down in the third quarter of their IFL game, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls defensive lineman Jalen Steward (14) drags down Massachusetts running back Pooka Williams (7) in the backfield in the fourth quarter of their IFL game, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls receiver Larry Harrington (1) sidesteps Massachusetts defensive back Matt Elam (5) and tacks on a few more yards after his catch late in the fourth quarter of their IFL game in Tucson on May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls kicker Kevin Macias (18) makes a last ditch grab to slow down Massachusetts wide receiver Isaac Zico (88) on his kick-off return in the fourth quarter of their IFL game, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls wide receiver Drew Dixon (8) makes the catch in the corner despite being in the arms of Massachusetts defensive back Tye Smith (27) for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of their IFL game, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
A Sugar Skulls fan flips his “dreds” while watching the Skulls roll to a 47-26 win over Massachusetts, Tucson, Ariz., May 10, 2025.
Sugar Skulls head coach Billy Back tosses a ball around while patrolling the team’s pre-game warm ups before the kick-off against Massachusetts on May 10, 2025, in Tucson.
