The Tucson Sugar Skulls won their first game of the 2024 season after holding off the Duke City Gladiators 56-49 Saturday night in Albuquerque. The triumph marked the first victory of head coach Billy Back's tenure with the Sugar Skulls.
Tucson quarterback Mylik Mitchell completed 15 of 18 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to four rushing touchdowns. The first-year Sugar Skulls quarterback has accounted for 12 touchdowns this season.
Sugar Skulls defensive backs Chris Jefferson and Rob Sheffield each recorded an interception on Saturday. Sheffield's interception sealed the win for Tucson after Duke City recovered an onside kick late and attempted to tie or win the game.
Up next: Tucson (1-1) will face the defending IFL champion Bay Area Panthers (2-0) on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. at Tucson Arena, which will also be televised on CW Tucson and the IFL YouTube channel. Four of the Sugar Skulls' next five games are in Tucson.
