By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
The Gunslingers received reports of an apparition terrorizing a small town. The apparition was seen numerous times by the townsfolk, and all reports said the same thing, that the figure was a walking skeleton. The town’s women and children locked themselves in their homes, afraid to leave. The menfolk were on edge, staying up all night on the prowl for this monstrosity. Upon arrival, the Gunslingers consulted with the local authorities who told them where the sightings of this figure were most prominent. Walking down the streets of downtown they came across a little shop where an obvious disturbance was occurring. Intrigued, they entered the store to see what was inside. Behind the counter stood the skeleton figure, ordained in an assortment of colors, foil, beads and feathers. This figure startled the Gunslingers momentarily, as the figure was quite shocking to behold. The calavera leaned across the counter, and in a menacing, rattling voice, said, “Bienvenida a la tierra de los Muertos.” With lightening speed, the Gunslingers quick drew their pistols and fired upon the skeleton. The figure exploded into a million pieces, chunks of the figure flying everywhere. Upon inspection of what was left, it was discovered that the apparition was made of sugar and chocolate, it was a Sugar Skull. The threat that was terrorizing the town has been neutralized and the day was saved.
It is Week 6 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the 0-3 San Antonio Gunslingers return to the friendly confines of the Freeman Coliseum when they host the 1-2 Tucson Sugar Skulls in San Antonio, Texas. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Thursday, April 18, 2024 @ 6:00pm CT.
Where?
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas.
Gameday Weather
Game is being played indoors, obviously, but those who are looking at hanging out before the game starts, the weather report calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms. It should be 66 degrees with winds up to 10 miles per hour and a 70% chance of rain.
History
This is the first matchup between the two clubs.
Keys to Victory
The defense continues to bleed yards and points. The Gunslingers allow an average of 65 points per game, almost 20 points more than the next worst team. The defense will need turn this around. The Gunslingers are allowing an average of 44.3 yards per game, third worst in the league, while Tucson is averaging 102.7 yards per game, third best. The last two games, San Antonio has been gashed in the run game, and with the Sugar Skulls being very efficient at running the ball, this does not bode well for San Antonio. If the Gunslingers hope to secure their first victory of the season, they need to be a wall defensively.
The battle of the trenches is extremely important. San Antonio has allowed 5 sacks, while not recording a single sack on defense. Tucson also has not recorded a sack either and has given up 6 sacks, fourth most in the league. San Antonio needs to rush the quarterback better, and with Tucson having an offensive line that has given up a lot of sacks, the Gunslingers could potentially keep Tucson off balance, disrupt their rhythm and create some turnovers.
The Gunslingers will need to continue to sling the ball round, pun intended. They have the best passing offense in the league with an average of 197 yards per game, almost a whole 30 yards per game more than the next team. Tucson’s pass defense is in the bottom five in the league at pass defense, so could be a weakness that San Antonio could capitalize on. Quite frankly, the passing game has been the only bright spot for San Antonio so far.
3rd down conversions and stopping the opponents. The Gunslingers against Vegas were 50% on 3rd down conversions and 3 for 5 on 4th down, which is not terrible, but consider that Vegas scored on every single possession. With that in mind, the Gunslingers cannot afford to be anything but perfect, especially considering that they have not made a field goal and have attempted only one all season. They have been very aggressive, but that aggressiveness has left some potential points off the board, points that they need badly.
Final Thoughts
The Gunslingers have endured a rough start to their season but are still determined to make their mark upon the IFL. Led by quarterback Sam Castronova, they aim to bounce back after suffering their worst loss of the year at the hands of the Vegas Knight Hawks. The Gunslingers’ key to success is Castronova, who continues to sparkle. This will prove to be a difficult game, as San Antonio is coming off yet another short week, but they are eager to secure their first victory, and to do so in front of their home fans.
The Tucson Sugar Skulls are looking to rebound from their defeat to the Bay Area Panthers. The Sugar Skulls, led by quarterback Felix Harper are looking to put up big numbers against the worst defense in the IFL. Expect a high-scoring affair with explosive plays and little defense. The Gunslingers look to defend their home turf, while the Sugar Skulls seek redemption. Buckle up, San Antonio, and make sure you keep those Gunz Up!