Islanders seeking revenge

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

•	Game facts What: arenafootball2 National Conference semifinals Who: Hawaiian Islanders (11-6) vs. Tulsa Talons (13-3) When: 2:30 p.m. today (HST) Where: Tulsa Convention Center Radio: KUMU2 AM 1500

The Tulsa Talons were riding a 25-game regular-season home winning streak entering the July 12 game. The Islanders built a late 47-35 lead, but allowed a pair of Craig Strickland-to-Mitch Allner touchdown passes in the final 4:16 and lost, 48-47.

Today, the Islanders (11-6) will try to avenge their most frustrating loss of the season when they face Tulsa (13-3) in the arenafootball2 National Conference semifinal. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. (HST).

"There's a lot of frustration," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said of last month's game. "When you play well and you think you have a chance to win and things don't come out that way. ... They don't give you any credit for coming close. It's heartbreaking to lose a game like that."

Said Islanders wide receiver/defensive back Darrell Jones: "You need to play the whole four quarters and we didn't, that's why we lost."

The Islanders, the National West Division champions and No. 3 seed, are coming off a 57-30 first-round victory over the visiting Wichita Stealth last Friday.

"After the way they played last Friday I feel real good," Lee said. "I think they played one of their better games all season long. The excitement and enthusiasm, and playing together as a team really showed up."

Tulsa, the National Central Division champion and No. 2 seed, is coming off a bye week after finishing with the second-best record in the conference.

"I think it's an advantage to keep playing at this time of year," Tulsa head coach Skip Foster said. "People think you can rest up (during a bye week), but I think you're better off just playing."

Tulsa routed the Islanders in both meetings last season — 70-42 on May 4 and 73-48 on May 18. They are the second- and third-worst defeats in Islanders' history.

"They're a completely different team, top to bottom," Foster said of this season's Islanders. "A lot of guys played for them last year. Coach Lee has brought stability and leadership and quality coaching to the team. With his ties and influence in Hawai'i, better players are coming out for him."

The No. 4 Arkansas Twisters (10-7) and No. 1 Quad City Steamwheelers (14-2) will play today in the other conference semifinal.

The highest remaining seed will host the National Conference final next weekend.

Islanders up close: The Islanders are averaging 46.7 points per game and allowing 45.7 this season, despite having a pass offense that averages just 196.2 yards per game, which ranks last among 27 af2 teams.

The Islanders lead the league in rushing (50.7 yards per game) and red-zone efficiency (.854), which is the percentage of touchdowns scored after getting inside the opponents' 20-yard line. They are the third-least penalized team (45.6 yards per game).

Darnell Arceneaux has started 11 games this season, and completed 159 of 309 passes for 2,247 yards and 41 touchdowns.

When Arceneaux missed time midway through the season with a broken bone in his throwing hand, Mike Tillis filled in. Tillis has completed 80 of 147 passes for 1,247 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Arceneaux's quarterback rating is 97.05, while Tillis' is 99.52.

The Islanders' leading receiver is Nian Taylor, who has 80 receptions for 1,225 yards and 31 touchdowns.Ê

Talons up close: Tulsa is averaging 51.4 points per game and allowing 43.1 this season, despite gaining fewer yards (4,339 to 3,995 in total offense) and first downs (246 to 233).

The Talons rank 26th in total defense, allowing 271.2 yards per game.

"We're not really good on defense," Foster said. "We're an average bunch of guys."

The Talons are second in kickoff return average (22.7 on 68 returns), are the second-least penalized team (39.8 yards per game) and have a plus-7 turnover margin.

Strickland has started every game this season, completing 300 of 523 passes for 3,717 yards and 83 touchdowns.

Tacoma Fontaine has 93 receptions for 1,229 yards and 30 touchdowns, and Allner has caught 67 passes for 941 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Notes: Tulsa is 40-8 in the regular season over three years, but 1-2 in the playoffs. ... The Islanders deactivated wide receiver/defensive back Leroy Shelton this week and activated defensive specialist Desmond Maul. ... Lineman Roy Ma'afala didn't make the trip because of work-related reasons.