Posted on: Sunday, July 27, 2003
Bakersfield will try to win one for late teammate
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
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JULIAN YEARWOOD
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Tonight, Fuller's heavy-hearted team will play the Hawaiian Islanders at the Blaisdell Arena in the Blitz's first arenafootball2 game since Yearwood's death last week. Kickoff for the regular-season finale is 6 p.m.
"Julian would have wanted us to win this game for him," Blitz spokesman Anthony Martinez said.
On Friday, Fuller and Bakersfield players J'Sharlon Jones, Delvin Myles and Teddy Wilson drove to Las Vegas for Yearwood's wake, according to Martinez.
Fuller drove the players back to Bakersfield that night and returned to Las Vegas yesterday for the funeral. He later drove to Los Angeles to catch a flight to Honolulu, and was scheduled to arrive late last night.
| Arenafootball2 • WHO: Bakersfield Blitz vs. Hawaiian Islanders • WHEN: Today, 6 p.m. • WHERE: Blaisdell Arena • ADMISSION: $10 upper level (unreserved) for adults and $7 ages 4-17. Lower level is sold out. • PARKING: $3 |
Yearwood, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound fullback/linebacker, played in all 15 games for Bakersfield this season. He played college football at UNLV and Nevada.
"He was an all-around good guy and one of the leaders on the team," Martinez said. "He always made you laugh, got you fired up for the game."
The Islanders (10-5) clinched the National West Division and the right to host a first-round playoff game Friday after the Bakersfield-Wichita game was halted, and later ruled a 7-7 tie.
Bakersfield (7-7-1) clinched a playoff berth with the tie. The Blitz had won six of seven prior to last week.
"I give them my condolences, but as far as us we're going to do what we got to do," Islanders lineman Andy Ramos said.
Lineman Paul Breed played five games for Bakersfield earlier this season before being picked up by the Islanders on June 27.
"I can't wait for the situation to go down, playing against my former teammates," he said. "I'm sorry it didn't work out between me and them, but I'm a part of Hawai'i so I can't wait for the day to come."
Notes: If the Islanders win, the teams will meet again at the Blaisdell Friday in a first-round playoff game. If Bakersfield wins, it will play at the Arkansas Twisters and the Wichita Stealth will play here. ... The Islanders deactivated Anthony Arceneaux, Morrie Roe and Sae Paogofie for tonight's game. They activated Leroy Shelton, Desmond Maul and Tony Tata, who have played a combined six games this season.
National Conference
West Division
| Teams | W L T PF PA Streak |
| Hawaiian Islanders | 10 05 0 676 672 W1 |
| Wichita Stealth | 08 07 1 726 727 L1 |
| Bakersfield Blitz | 07 07 1 622 602 — |
| San Diego Riptide | 06 10 0 688 752 W1 |
Friday's Result
San Diego Riptide 31, Green Bay Blizzard 28
Yesterday's Result
Cincinnati Swarm 61, Wichita Stealth 59
