When it comes to 7-11, Slurpees and casino games may come to mind.
For the Tucson Sugar Skulls, however, the numbers are neither sweet nor satisfying.
Tucsonβs IFL team is 7-11 under coach and general manager Dixie Wooten, and 1-3 to start the 2022 season.
Tucsonβs latest setback: A 57-52 loss to the Duke City Gladiators last Saturday in New Mexico. The club trailed 14-0 before taking an offensive snap, then rallied only to cough up a fourth-quarter lead to their divisional rival.
βWe just gotta finish,β Wooten said as his team prepared to host the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Saturday night at Tucson Arena. βWe just have to understand that in the indoor game, there are opportunities and certain drives that you have to take advantage of. We went down 14-0, but we fought back.β
The Gladiators converted on a pair of first-half onside kicks, something that allowed them to dominated the Sugar Skulls in time of possession.
In the previous weekβs 67-66 loss to the San Diego Strike Force, the Sugar Skulls also gave up an onside kick recovery.
βIt hurt us big-time,β Wooten said. βIβm going to put my hands on the special teams more this week, so we got some new things weβre going to do. I can live with getting beat, but I canβt live with getting out-coached, and when you get things done to you like that in special teams, youβre basically getting out-coached in that moment. Thatβs not going to happen. β¦ If they donβt get those two special-team turnovers, itβs even and it gives us a chance to score two touchdowns.β
The Sugar Skulls are allowing 54.8 points per game this season.
βWeβre going to fix this ship,β Wooten said. βOne thing about me as a coach, I never let things like that happen over and over again, so weβre going to make some changes and get this thing rolling. β¦ We have a bunch of talent in that locker room, we just have to get that defense going. Once we get the defense going, the skyβs the limit for us.β
WR Jackson continues to impress
Wooten praised the play of wide receiver Arthur Jackson, who has hauled in 23 catches for 275 yards and seven touchdowns, which ranks third in the IFL. Jackson, who is averaging just under 12 yards per catch, has become quarterback Daquan Nealβs top target through the first four games.
Jackson took part in training camp with the Las Vegas Knight Hawks before he was cut. After he was released, Wooten swooped in and signed the Vacaville, California, native.
βAnd next thing you know, heβs just killing it, man,β Wooten said. βHe catches, heβs physical, he breaks tackles and gets in the end zone. Weβre glad to have Arthur.β
Neal, the 2019 IFL Offensive MVP, leads the league with 614 passing yards and 13 touchdowns; he has a 70% completion rate.
USFL brings βa little competitionβ to IFL
The IFL isnβt the only brand of professional football during the spring and summer months. Last week marked the start of the made-for-TV, eight-team USFL.
Wooten says he doubts the other spring league will poach the IFLβs top players.
βWe focus on the IFL, because this is a brand thatβs been around for a long time,β he said. βWeβre just trying to get stronger and stronger. With the USFL, we just have to play it by ear, because most of those teams donβt last. When they last a year or two or three years, then that conversation will need to be had, but with the IFL, weβve been around a long time and weβre getting stronger.β
Players cut by the USFL could feed the IFLβs ever-changing rosters.
βWe try to find guys from everywhere, so we pay attention to their rosters, but we also make sure our brand is strong, because we look at it as a little competition,β Wooten said.
