Islanders' defense keys 34-26 victory

Advertiser Staff

The Hawaiian Islanders swept their three-game arenafootball2 season series with the San Diego Riptide last night behind their best defensive effort of the season.

The Islanders' defense had three interceptions and stopped the Riptide on their final drive in a 34-26 win at the San Diego Sports Arena.

The Islanders (10-5) allowed a season low in points and snapped a two-game losing streak.

"The defense has been our trademark," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said. "We needed a really big game and they made some great stops."

The Islanders led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but San Diego cut its deficit to 27-26 on a 7-yard pass from backup quarterback Wesley Phillips to Lamont Webb with 2:16 remaining in the game.

A bad snap on the extra-point kick prevented San Diego (5-10) from having an opportunity to tie the game.

Josh White scored on a 7-yard run on the Islanders' next possession and Kimo Naehu's extra-point kick made it 34-26 with 58 seconds left.

San Diego's final drive started at its 7 with 50 seconds remaining. The Riptide drove deep into Islanders' territory, but a pass on fourth-and-nine fell incomplete.

"It was fitting to end the game with the defense on the field preventing them from the tying touchdown," Lee said.

The Islanders can clinch the National West Division and host a playoff game if the Bakersfield Blitz beat the Wichita Stealth today.

If Wichita wins, the Islanders can clinch the division with a win in the season finale next week against Bakersfield or if Wichita losses to the Cincinnati Swarm.

Islanders (10-5) 7 13 7 7—34
San Diego Riptide (5-10) 0 13 7 6—26

• Haw—Darrick Branch 4 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Kimo Naehu kick)
• SDG—Kane Claunch 1 run (kick failed)
• Haw—Anthony Arceneaux 41 pass from D. Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
• Haw—D. Arceneaux 1 run (kick failed)
• SDG—Altie Parker 36 pass from Wesley Phillips (Ryan Geisler kick)
• Haw—Branch 21 pass from D. Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
• SDG—Phillips 1 run (Geisler kick)
• SDG—Lamont Webb 7 pass from Phillips (run failed)
• Haw—Josh White 7 run (Naehu kick)

Rushing: Islanders—J. White 6-28; Vai Notoa 2-17; D. Arceneaux 4-15; Darrell Jones 1-1. Riptide—Phillips 4-15; Rico Curtis 2-2; Claunch 1-1; Trey Merkens 2-(minus-2); Eddie Miller 1-(minus-3); Jesus Reyes 1-(minus-5).

Passing: Islanders—D. Arceneaux 18-27-0—205. Riptide—Phillips 12-22-1—145; Claunch 10-17-2—111; Team 0-0-0—(minus-4).

Receiving: Islanders, A. Arceneaux 4-73; Branch 3-38; I. White 3-35; Jones 3-26; Sae Paogofie 2-31; Taulia Lave 2-14; Morrie Roe 1-(minus-12). Riptide—Parker 6-81; Webb 6-73; Miller 4-43; Dwight Carter 3-25; Curtis 2-23; Reyes 1-11.