2024 Tucson Sugar Skulls season

2024 Tucson Sugar Skulls season
2024 Tucson Sugar Skulls season
Owner	Cathy Guy
Head coach	Billy Back (1st season)
Home field	Tucson Convention Center
Results
Record	0–0 (0–0)
Conference place	N/A Western
Uniform
	← 2023; Sugar Skulls seasons; 2025 →;

The 2024 season is the Tucson Sugar Skulls' 5th season in the Indoor Football League (IFL) and their first under the head coach Billy Back. The Sugar Skulls will attempt to improve from their 9–6 record from the previous year and make the playoffs for the third year in a row.

Offseason

Coaching changes

Hirings

September 1, 2023 – Billy Back was hired as head coach.^[1]
October 5, 2023 – Joshua Resignalo was hired as defensive coordinator.^[2]

Resignations

September 1, 2023 – Hurtis Chinn resigned as head coach.^[1]

Roster changes

All transactional dates pulled from Transactions.

Signings

September 11, 2023 – re-signed QB Ramone Atkins.^[3]
September 14, 2023 – re-signed WR M. J. Harris.^[4]
September 14, 2023 – signed DB Sean Harper.^[5]
September 14, 2023 – signed WR Akilian Butler.^[6]
September 14, 2023 – signed DL Lamonte McDougle.^[7]
September 14, 2023 – signed WR Tyrin Ralph.
September 14, 2023 – signed RB Ahmari Davis.
September 15, 2023 – signed RB Trelon Smith.
September 15, 2023 – signed DB James Jackson.
September 15, 2023 – signed DL Sterling Johnson.^[7]
September 15, 2023 – signed DB David Haney.^[5]
September 15, 2023 – signed OL Cliff Porter.
September 15, 2023 – signed DB Jalen Phelps.^[5]
September 25, 2023 – signed DL Arthur Randall.^[7]
September 25, 2023 – re-signed DL Trae'varis Ferrell.^[8]
September 25, 2023 – re-signed WR Carrington Thompson.^[9]
October 2, 2023 – signed QB Neiko Hollins.
October 2, 2023 – re-signed DL Dominion Ezinwa.^[8]
October 2, 2023 – signed WR Allen Dailey.^[6]
October 9, 2023 – re-signed RB Mike Jones.^[10]
October 9, 2023 – signed WR Darrion Landry.
October 9, 2023 – signed DL Terrance Jones.
October 16, 2023 – signed OL Austin Schofield.
October 16, 2023 – signed DB Kaytron Allen.
October 16, 2023 – signed OL Chibueze Nwanna.
October 16, 2023 – signed DB Robert Sheffield.
October 23, 2023 – signed OL Jacob Ungruhe.
October 23, 2023 – re-signed DB Carlito Gonzalez.
October 23, 2023 – signed DB John Broussard.
October 30, 2023 – signed DL Shaheem Haltiwanger.
November 1, 2023 – signed DB/LB Caleb Tannor.
November 6, 2023 – signed DB Jonathan Haynes.
November 15, 2023 – signed DB Lakevias Daniel.
November 20, 2023 – signed WR Mike Carrigan.
November 23, 2023 – signed WR Jerminic Smith.
November 30, 2023 – signed OL Brandon Nicholson.

Releases

September 25, 2023 – released QB Dylan Vanboxel.
October 2, 2023 – released WR Tim Lukas.
October 2, 2023 – released WR Dylan Person.
October 9, 2023 – released K Michael Hall.
October 9, 2023 – released RB Ben Jones.
October 16, 2023 – released WR Darian Patterson.
October 16, 2023 – released DB Jakoby Pappillion.
October 16, 2023 – released DB Mike Minter.
October 16, 2023 – released DB Simeon Burns.
October 23, 2023 – released DL Dylan Cozens.
October 23, 2023 – released OL Jacob Ayyub.
November 15, 2023 – released DL Zach Blackiston.
November 23, 2023 – released DL Isame Faciane.

Trades

October 30, 2023 – traded DL Maurice Jackson to Vegas for DL Boss Tagaloa and OL Isaac Jackson.
November 1, 2023 – traded DB Rashie Hodge and DL Melik Owens to Quad City for WR Mike Carrigan.^[11]
November 6, 2023 – traded QB Ramone Atkins to Arizona for QB Drew Powell.^[12]

Exempts

November 6, 2023 – XFL-exempted OL Fernando Frye.^[13]

Retirements

October 30, 2023 – WR Carrington Thompson retired.

Training camp

Personnel

Roster

**Tucson Sugar Skulls roster**
Quarterbacks -- Neiko Hollins Running backs -- Ahmari Davis 8 Mike Jones -- Trelon Smith Wide receivers -- Akilian Butler -- Allen Dailey -- Mike Carrigan 3 M. J. Harris -- Darrion Landry -- Tyrin Ralph -- Jerminic Smith		Offensive linemen -- Isaac Jackson -- Chibueze Nwanna -- Cliff Porter -- Austin Schofield -- Jacob Ungruhe Defensive linemen 88 Dominion Ezinwa 7 Trae'varis Ferrell -- Shaheem Haltiwanger -- Sterling Johnson -- Terrance Jones -- Lamonte McDougle -- Arthur Randall -- Boss Tagaloa		Linebackers -- Caleb Tannor Defensive backs -- Kaytron Allen -- John Broussard -- Lakevias Daniel 12 Carlito Gonzalez -- David Haney -- Sean Harper -- Jonathan Haynes -- James Jackson -- Jalen Phelps -- Robert Sheffield Kickers		Reserve lists 66 Fernando Frye OL (XFL-exempted) -- Drew Powell QB (Suspended) Rookies in italics Roster updated March 20, 2023 34 Active, 0 Inactive, 1 Exempt → More rosters

Coaching staff

**Tucson Sugar Skulls staff**
v
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e

	Front office Owner/CEO/chief operating officer – Cathy Guy Co-owner – Ali Farhang Media relations manager – Brandon Duenas Digital media manager – David Koonce Director of ticket operations – Nic Griffin Head coaches Head coach – Billy Back			Offensive coaches Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Joshua Resignalo → Coaching Staff → Front Office → Ownership

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV
1	Bye week
2	Bye week
3	March 30	6:05 p.m.	at Northern Arizona Wranglers	—	Findlay Toyota Center · Prescott Valley, AZ	YouTube
4	April 6	5:05 p.m.	at Duke City Gladiators	—	Rio Rancho Events Center · Rio Rancho, NM	YouTube
5	April 14	3:05 p.m.	Bay Area Panthers	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
6	April 18	4:30 p.m.	at San Antonio Gunslingers	—	Freeman Coliseum · San Antonio, TX	YouTube
7	April 27	6:05 p.m.	Northern Arizona Wranglers	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
8	Bye week
9	May 11	6:05 p.m.	Arizona Rattlers	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
10	May 17	7:05 p.m.	Vegas Knight Hawks	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
11	May 25	6:05 p.m.	at Northern Arizona Wranglers	—	Findlay Toyota Center · Prescott Valley, AZ	YouTube
12	June 1	6:05 p.m.	Duke City Gladiators	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
13	June 8	6:05 p.m.	at Bay Area Panthers	—	SAP Center · San Jose, CA	YouTube
14	June 15	6:05 p.m.	Frisco Fighters	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
15	June 22	6:05 p.m.	San Diego Strike Force	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
16	June 29	5:05 p.m.	at Duke City Gladiators	—	Rio Rancho Events Center · Rio Rancho, NM	YouTube
17	July 7	3:05 p.m.	at Arizona Rattlers	—	Desert Diamond Arena · Glendale, AZ	YouTube
18	July 13	6:05 p.m.	San Antonio Gunslingers	—	Tucson Convention Center · Tucson, AZ	YouTube
19	July 20	6:05 p.m.	at Vegas Knight Hawks	—	Dollar Loan Center · Henderson, NV	YouTube

Game summaries

Week 1: Opening weekend

Week 2: Bye week

Week 3: at Northern Arizona

Week 4: at Duke City

Week 5: vs. Bay Area

Week 6: at San Antonio

Week 7: vs. Northern Arizona

Week 8: Bye week

Week 9: vs. Arizona Rattlers

Week 10: vs. Vegas

Week 11: at Northern Arizona

Week 12: vs. Duke City

Week 13: at Bay Area

Week 14: vs. Frisco

Week 15: vs. San Diego

Week 16: at Duke City

Week 17: at Arizona

Week 18: vs. San Antonio

Week 19: at Vegas

Standings

League

Indoor Football League
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK

Conference

IFL Western Conference
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	CONF	PF	PA	STK

Power rankings

IFL Power Rankings
Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19

References

^ ^a ^b Duenas, Brandon. "SUGAR SKULLS HIRE FIVE-TIME CHAMPION BILLY BACK AS HEAD COACH, HURTIS CHINN RESIGNS". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ Duenas, Brandon. "SUGAR SKULLS NAME JOSHUA RESIGNALO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN QB RAMONE ATKINS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN WIDE RECEIVER MJ HARRIS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "SUGAR SKULLS SIGN THREE DEFENSIVE BACKS, HANEY, HARPER, AND PHELPS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "SUGAR SKULLS SIGN WR AKILIAN BUTLER, ALLEN DAILEY JR". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "SUGAR SKULLS ADD THREE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, JOHNSON, MCDOUGLE, AND RANDALL". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "TUCSON RE-SIGNS LB TRAE'VARIS FARRELL AND DL DOMINION EZINWA". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN WR CARRINGTON THOMPSON FOR 2024 SEASON". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN RUNNING BACK MIKE JONES". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ Duenas, Brandon. "TUCSON TRADES FOR WR MIKE CARRIGAN". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ "RATTLERS ACQUIRE QB RAMONE ATKINS IN EXCHANGE FOR DREW POWELL". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^ Reisenweber, Tom. "A top-10 pick and a chat with 'The Rock'. Erie-area's Garrett Owens drafted into revamped XFL". GoErie. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[HC-1] Duenas, Brandon. "SUGAR SKULLS HIRE FIVE-TIME CHAMPION BILLY BACK AS HEAD COACH, HURTIS CHINN RESIGNS". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[2] Duenas, Brandon. "SUGAR SKULLS NAME JOSHUA RESIGNALO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[3] "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN QB RAMONE ATKINS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[4] "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN WIDE RECEIVER MJ HARRIS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[3DBs-5] "SUGAR SKULLS SIGN THREE DEFENSIVE BACKS, HANEY, HARPER, AND PHELPS". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[2WRs-6] "SUGAR SKULLS SIGN WR AKILIAN BUTLER, ALLEN DAILEY JR". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[3DLs-7] "SUGAR SKULLS ADD THREE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, JOHNSON, MCDOUGLE, AND RANDALL". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[LB/DL-8] "TUCSON RE-SIGNS LB TRAE'VARIS FARRELL AND DL DOMINION EZINWA". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[9] "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN WR CARRINGTON THOMPSON FOR 2024 SEASON". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[10] "SUGAR SKULLS RE-SIGN RUNNING BACK MIKE JONES". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[11] Duenas, Brandon. "TUCSON TRADES FOR WR MIKE CARRIGAN". Tucson Sugar Skulls. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[12] "RATTLERS ACQUIRE QB RAMONE ATKINS IN EXCHANGE FOR DREW POWELL". Indoor Football League. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

[13] Reisenweber, Tom. "A top-10 pick and a chat with 'The Rock'. Erie-area's Garrett Owens drafted into revamped XFL". GoErie. Retrieved November 17, 2023.

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