Let's try this again.Β
The Tucson Sugar Skulls released their 16-game schedule for 2021, and it features more games and matchups with four of the Indoor Football League's five expansion teams.Β
The team will play 16 games in 2021, up from the usual 14. The season will start two weeks later than the 2020 season that was shut down because of COVID-19.
During the offseason, the IFL added five expansion teams: the Northern Arizona Wranglers, Louisville Xtreme, Columbus Wild Dogs, Frisco Fighters and Massachusetts Pirates. It appears the Oakland Panthers, the team founded by former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch, is no longer a part of the league.
Tucson will face four expansion teams β everybody except Columbus β in '21, including the April 3 season opener against the Wranglers in Prescott. The Sugar Skulls' home opener at Tucson Arena is scheduled for April 11 against Louisville. The Sugar Skulls face the in-state rival Arizona Rattlers three times, with the lone game in Tucson scheduled for July 17. Half of Tucson's games will take place against either Duke City or Northern Arizona.
The first round of the IFL playoffs are scheduled for the weekend of July 31, with the United Bowl taking place Aug. 21.Β
Here's a complete look at the Sugar Skulls' 16-game schedule, with home games in ALL CAPS:
April 3: at Northern Arizona Wranglers, 6:05 p.m.
April 11: LOUISVILLE XTREME, 3:05 p.m.
April 17: at Spokane Shock, 7:05 p.m.
April 24: NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS, 6:05 p.m.
May 1: at Arizona Rattlers, 6:05 p.m.
May 8: DUKE CITY GLADIATORS, 6:05 p.m.
May 15: FRISCO FIGHTERS, 6:05 p.m.
May 22: at Bismarck Bucks, 4:05 p.m.
May 30: MASSACHUSETTS PIRATES, 3:05 p.m.
June 5: at Northern Arizona Wranglers, 6:05 p.m.
June 12: at Duke City Gladiators, 5:05 p.m.
June 19: NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS, 6:05 p.m.
June 26: at Arizona Rattlers, 6:05 p.m.
July 3: BYE
July 10: DUKE CITY GLADIATORS, 6:05 p.m.
July 17: ARIZONA RATTLERS, 6:05 p.m.
July 24: at Duke City Gladiators, 5:05 p.m.
