Blitz surge past Islanders

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Bakersfield used a potent combination of quarterback Chad Elliot and receiver Eric Mahanke, and drew upon inspiration from a late teammate last night to roll past the Hawaiian Islanders, 75-61, in an arenafootball2 game at Blaisdell Arena.

Hawaiian Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux eludes the grasp of Bakersfield's Kenney Williamson during this first-half run at Blaisdell Arena. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

The duo did most of its damage in the first half when Bakersfield built a 48-28 lead. Elliot completed 11 of 12 passes for 187 yards and six touchdowns in the half, and Mahanke had 101 receiving yards and five of his six receptions were for touchdowns.

"At the beginning of the year we were looking for our timing, but we've definitely got that down," Mahanke said.

The Blitz dedicated the win to Julian Yearwood, a fullback/linebacker who collapsed during the first quarter of a game at Wichita, Kan., July 19 and died shortly thereafter at a nearby hospital. He was 31.

"This was definitely a tribute to Julian," said the Blitz's J'Sharlon Jones, who had an interception, 89 return yards and recovered four onside kicks last night.

Bakersfield reached a season-high in points, while the Islanders surrendered the most points in a game this season.

"We're disappointed, but we're still looking forward to the playoffs," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said.

The Islanders (10-6) will host the Wichita Stealth (8-7-1) Friday in a playoff game.

Bakersfield (8-7-1) will travel to play the Arkansas Twisters (9-7) in another first-round game Saturday.

The Blitz had a first-and-goal from the 5 on their opening possession last night, but turned the ball over on downs after four running plays. Bakersfield then scored touchdowns on its final seven possessions of the half.

"Emotions were there, but we wanted to come out with controlled aggression and we did that," Bakersfield head coach James Fuller said.

Hawaiian Islander defender Darrick Branch breaks up a pass intended for Bakersfield's Kusanti Abdul-Salaam in their arenafootball2 game at Blaisdell Arena. Bakersfield won, 75-61. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Jones recalled having no one to hang out with on his 24th birthday last year.

Then Yearwood offered to keep him company.

"The first thing that really drew us close was my birthday on May 16," Jones said.

"I didn't have anybody to go out with and he said 'I'll go out with you,' " added Jones, a defensive specialist. "We never went out before then and for him to say that was just gratifying for me.

"He wasn't just a football player," Jones said. "He was an individual with a wide variety of talents and communication (skills) with people. He was the type of man you were drawn to."

Jones called Yearwood "one of my best friends," and the pair kept in touch during the offseason while Jones was in Denver and Yearwood in Las Vegas. Jones, Yearwood and defensive specialist Delvin Myles were roommates this season.

The Blitz got off to a fast start last night, and their first-half point total was the most surrendered by the Islanders in franchise history. The previous record was 47 against Quad City last April 20.

Bakersfield took its largest lead at 55-28 on an 11-yard pass from Elliott to Mahanke on its first possession of the second half.

The Blitz saw their string of touchdowns on nine consecutive possessions ended when Kohei Satomi intercepted a pass on the Blitz's third possession of the second half.

The Islanders cut their deficit to 61-49 on their first drive of the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.

The Islanders' secondary was without defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski, the reigning af2 defensive player of the week, who was out with a sore shoulder.

"We definitely missed Eddie," Lee said. "Eddie is a big part of our defense, and I was hoping some of the other guys would pick it up."

Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, who played the entire first half, threw five incompletions and two interceptions on his first seven passes.

The two interceptions led to 14 Bakersfield points. He finished 8 of 19 for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

The Islanders didn't gain positive yardage until their fourth drive of the game.

Before the game, Islanders coaches decided that Mike Tillis would replace Arceneaux in the second half.

Tillis completed 10 of 17 passes for 148 yards and four touchdowns.

When asked who his starting quarterback will be Friday, Lee said: "That's a good question. We'll have to evaluate at practice and see how that goes."

Bakersfield Blitz (8-7-1) 14 34 13 14—75
Hawaiian Islanders (10-6) 8 20 14 19—61

First Quarter

BAK—Ryan Sloth 41 pass from Chad Elliot (Jon Baker kick)

BAK—Nick Onaindia 3 run (Baker kick)

HAW—Chris Paogofie 9 run (Ramos run)

Second Quarter

BAK—Eric Mahanke 5 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

BAK—Mahanke 28 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

HAW—Nian Taylor 28 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Naehu kick)

BAK—Mahanke 12 pass from Elliot (kick failed)

HAW—Arceneaux 5 run (kick failed)

BAK—Mahanke 30 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

HAW—Darrell Jones 18 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)

BAK—Mahanke 12 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

Third Quarter

BAK—Mahanke 11 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

HAW—Isaac White 33 pass from Mike Tillis (Naehu kick)

BAK—Nathan Buergey 11 pass from Elliot (kick failed)

HAW—Darrick Branch 27 pass from Tillis (Naehu kick)

Fourth Quarter

HAW—Josh White 1 run (Naehu kick)

BAK—Mahanke 12 pass from Elliot (Baker kick)

HAW—Taylor 14 pass from Tillis (pass failed)

BAK—Onaindia 16 run (Baker kick)

HAW—Taylor 9 pass from Tillis (run failed)

RUSHING: Bakersfield Blitz—Onaindia 4-22; York Frierson 1-2; Sloth 1-1; Buergey 2-(minus 4). Hawaiian Islanders—Paogofie 3-40; Arceneaux 3-7; J. White 4-6; Tillis 1-0.

PASSING: Bakersfield Blitz—Elliot 16-24-1—253. Hawaiian Islanders—Arceneaux 8-19-2—138; Tillis 10-18-0-148; Team 0-0-0—(minus 16).

RECEIVING: Bakersfield Blitz—Mahanke 9-139; K. Abdul Salaam 3-45; Sloth 2-52; Buergey 1-11; Frierson 1-6. Hawaiian Islanders—Taylor 9-140; I. White 2-38; Branch 2-35; J. White 1-33; Jones 1-18; Evile Puna 1-14; Leroy Shelton 1-6; Tony Tata 1-2.