Mackey makes impact in Sugar Skulls' second-half surge before losing to San Diego

Brandon Mackey's debut as a Tucson Sugar Skulls running back provided a spark, but it wasn't enough to overcome the San Diego Strike Force.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:03am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football game, with fragmented and overlapping shapes representing the players, the ball, and the action on the field. The painting captures the energy and intensity of the game, with a focus on the running game and the Sugar Skulls' second-half surge.Brandon Mackey's impressive debut provided a much-needed spark for the Tucson Sugar Skulls, but they were unable to overcome the San Diego Strike Force in a game defined by momentum swings.San Diego Today

In his debut as a Tucson Sugar Skulls running back, Brandon Mackey made an immediate impact, finding the end zone twice and providing a spark for Tucson's offense in their 48-42 loss to the San Diego Strike Force. Mackey's performance, alongside fellow running back Tavion Thomas, helped shift the pace of the game and briefly put Tucson in position to take control, but the Sugar Skulls were unable to close out the game.

Why it matters

The Sugar Skulls are looking to build consistency early in the season, and Mackey's debut offers a glimpse of potential as the team tries to turn flashes of momentum into full-game results.

The details

Mackey finished the game with 50 yards on six carries (8.3 yards a carry) and two touchdowns. His biggest play was a 29-yard touchdown run, which he credited to patience and preparation. Despite the late push from Mackey and the Sugar Skulls' offense, they were unable to overcome the San Diego Strike Force, falling 48-42.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • The Sugar Skulls will next host the New Mexico Chupacabras on Sunday, April 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.

The players

Brandon Mackey

A new face in the Tucson Sugar Skulls backfield who made an immediate impact in his debut, finding the end zone twice and providing a spark for the team's offense.

Tavion Thomas

A running back for the Tucson Sugar Skulls who, alongside Mackey, helped shift the pace of the game and briefly put Tucson in position to take control.

Rayshaun Kizer

The head coach of the Tucson Sugar Skulls, who acknowledged the team's need to put together a complete performance and learn how to close out games.

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What they’re saying

“All week, coach was telling me just be patient in the backfield, it's going to open up. Because they like to overflow everything, and we got in the game and coach called it and when I (saw) it, there it goes.”

— Brandon Mackey, Running back

“We gotta learn how to close games out. We gotta learn how to handle business, just finish strong.”

— Brandon Mackey, Running back

“We're a good second-half team, but we were struggling in the first half for whatever reason. We'll watch the film, make our corrections, and we'll fix it.”

— Rayshaun Kizer, Head coach

What’s next

The Sugar Skulls will host the New Mexico Chupacabras on Sunday, April 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. as they look to build on Mackey's debut performance and turn their flashes of momentum into full-game results.

The takeaway

Brandon Mackey's impressive debut as a Tucson Sugar Skulls running back provided a much-needed spark for the team's offense, but the Sugar Skulls were ultimately unable to close out the game against the San Diego Strike Force. This performance offers a glimpse of potential as the Sugar Skulls work to build consistency and turn their second-half surges into complete game performances.