SAN JOSE, Calif.—The Panthers squandered a 16-0 second quarter lead in a 34-30 loss to the Tucson Sugar Skulls at the SAP Center. 
 
Carrington Thompson caught three second-half scoring passes from Ramone Atkins in the win for Tucson (3-0).  The game-clincher came on a 4^th and 7 late in the second half. 
 
Panthers quarterback Dalton Sneed scored rushing touchdowns on the team's first two possessions and looked to add on with a 20-yard field goal try from Kevin Goessling with 1:36 to play in the first half.  Tucson's Dominion Ezinwa surged up the middle to block the kick and the Skulls would take advantage on Atkins' 2-yard TD run with six seconds left in the quarter to trail 16-7 at the break. . 
 
Until then, the Bay Area defense had come up with three consecutive stops—two turnovers on downs and the first career interception by linebacker Wes Bowers. 
 
On their first possession of the second half, Tucson closed to within a score on Atkins' 19-yard TD pass to Thompson on 4^th and 4 with 12:57 left. 
 
The Panthers turned the ball over on their next drive after Arthur Jackson III fumbled at the Tucson 17 and the Skulls took their first lead 21-16 on Mike Jones' two-yard scoring run, capping a string of 21 straight points. 
 
Bay Area responded with a 39-yard scoring strike from Sneed to Nih-jer Jackson on deep post pattern to regain the lead 22-21.  It was Jackson's first reception after signing with the team three days earlier.
 
But Thompson came through in the clutch with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on fourth down.   The clincher came from 33 yards out on fourth and 7 with 1:14 to play for a 34-22 lead.
 
Sneed connected with Jackson on a back shoulder throw for a 10-yard strike with 29 seconds remaining for the final scoring of the night.
 
The Panthers will play Northern Arizona next Sunday at the SAP Center while Tucson plays its first home game against San Diego on Saturday.