By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
It is Week 18 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the 7-7 San Antonio Gunslingers go on the road for the last time this season when they visit the 2-12 Tucson Sugar Skulls. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 8:05pm CT.
Where?
Tucson Arena, Tucson, Arizona.
Gameday Weather
It’s going to be a hot night in the desert. The forecast calls for 79 degrees, partly cloudy skies with a 17% chance of rain and 10 mile per hour winds. Pretty toasty for a night game, so if you are hanging outside prior to the game, be prepared to sweat a little.
History
The Gunslingers lead the series 1-0.
Keys to Victory
-The Gunslingers cannot overlook the Sugar Skulls and their record. Last week, the Sugar Skulls kept up with the Arizona Rattlers most of the game until the end, while the Gunslingers last week came close to losing the game against the Massachusetts Pirates. The Gunslingers may be out of the playoff race, but they still have plenty to play for and they cannot take Tucson lightly.
-Penalties, penalties, penalties. This continues to be a thorn in the side of San Antonio. Whether you subscribe to the notion that the referees are out to get the Gunslingers, or that they are still struggling with the rules of the IFL, penalties continue to pile up on this team, and disproportionally so. If the Gunslingers were not penalized as much as they have been, perhaps they would have won some of those close games they lost, and their season would look much different.
-The Gunslingers cannot play down to their opponent. Tucson has one of the worst records in the IFL, and they have nothing to play for. They won’t be playing spoiler in this game because San Antonio is also out of the playoff race. With seemingly nothing to play for, it would be easy for San Antonio to play half-hearted and coast through this game. It’s very common in sports for teams that are superior to their opponent to play down to their level. San Antonio cannot do that. They need to keep their motivation up, their spirits up and their foot on the pedal.
Predictions
Let’s look at how my predictions from last week fared:
-The Gunslingers will rush for more than 50 yards.
Incorrect. The Gunslingers ran for 34 yards.
-DJ Myers will have at least 5 catches.
Correct, he had 6 catches.
-Clifton Duck will lead the team in tackles.
Correct, he had 7 total tackles.
-The Gunslingers will force at least one turnover.
Incorrect.
Week 17 results: 2-2.
Overall results: 23-43.
And now my predictions for this week, hopefully I’ll be a “straightshooter”:
-The Gunslingers will score on every possession.
-The Gunslingers will force at least one turnover on downs.-
-The Gunslingers will score at least two rushing touchdowns.
-The Gunslingers defense will record at least one sack.
Playoff Picture
The Gunslingers have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
Final Thoughts
The Gunslingers may have fell short of some of their goals for the season, namely making the playoffs and winning the championship, they still must be proud of what they have accomplished. Many of their losses came down to the last second and they had chances to win almost every game this season. That is not bad for a “new” franchise and one that was built from scratch. The Gunslingers easily could have been in the running for the #2 or possibly the #1 seed in the Western Conference. While that did not happen, the future looks bright for this franchise, and they have two games left to build upon their solid foundation that they have built. On paper, this game looks to be a complete mismatch, and looking back at the previous game between these two teams, that would solidify the belief that this is a mismatch. In the first game, San Antonio blew out the Sugar Skulls at home, in the most lopsided game the Gunslingers have played in. With Tucson having nothing to play for in this game, it’s easy to believe that this game will also be a blowout. The Gunslingers are the superior team and should have no problem handling their over matched opponent. It’s the penultimate game of the season, Gunslingers fans, so let’s keep our Gunz Up!