Billy Back had a decision to make: kick a PAT and tie the game with the Vegas Knight Hawks and go to double-overtime or go for a two-point conversion to win in walk-off fashion.Â
The Tucson Sugar Skulls head coach chose the latter and the Sugar Skulls (2-5) edged undefeated Vegas (7-1) with a 51-50 win, handing the Knight Hawks their first loss of the season and snapping Tucson's four-game losing streak.
Tucson also handed former Sugar Skulls head coach Hurtis Chinn, who's in his first season with Vegas, his first loss since taking over as Vegas' offensive coordinator. Former Sugar Skulls assistant Xzavie Jackson is also Vegas' defensive coordinator. Â
Longtime Sugar Skulls running back Mike Jones, who has been with the team since the inaugural season in 2019, scored Tucson's touchdown in the overtime period, then punctuated the win with a hand-off towards the right pylon; he had two touchdowns on Saturday.Â
Tucson quarterback Mylik Mitchell accounted for 167 yards of total offense with four touchdowns. Sugar Skulls receiver Brian Smith had three receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Smith's final touchdown of the night gave the Sugar Skulls a 29-28 lead at halftime.
Up next: Tucson visits Northern Arizona Wranglers (5-3) on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. in Prescott Valley, which will be streamed on the IFL YouTube channel. The Sugar Skulls return to Tucson to face the Duke City Gladiators on June 1 at 6:05 p.m.Â



