SIOUX FALLS, SD — The Sioux Falls Storm defeated the Tucson Sugar Skulls, 50-47, in the first round of the Indoor Football League Playoffs.
Rico Brown caught two touchdown passes for the Sugar Skulls in a game that featured five lead changes. A key play came in the third quarter, with the Storm up by two points. Kicker Josh Gable's 52-yard field goal attempt was blocked by T.J. Neal, and two players later, Storm quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. put his team up by two scores.
"I thought we played well," said Head Coach Marcus Coleman. "When you're playing a team like Sioux Falls and playing in their building, it's always going to be a tough, tight game. We just didn't make enough plays when it counted," Coleman said. "Give them credit. They made plays when it counted."
Tucson was without defensive stars Zach Allen and Keith Jones Jr. who didn't make the trip due to injuries.
The Skulls season comes to an end after making the playoffs as an expansion team.
"For the most part, we had a successful season being it was the first year, building it from the ground up, and making it to the playoffs," Coleman said. "We've really got a lot to build on. The foundation has been set. I know we finished 7-7 but we made the playoffs," Coleman added. "We're the first team to do that as an expansion team. That's the foundation. Now the guys that come back and the new guys that come in know what the expectation is. The expectation is to make the playoffs again and trying to make a deeper run."
