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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, June 5, 2003

Islanders to start Tillis at QB again

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

MIKE TILLIS

Hawaiian Islanders quarterback Mike Tillis passed his baptism by Fire last Saturday.

He will be called upon again as the Islanders (7-2) travel to play the Arkansas Twisters (4-4) in an arenafootball2 game Saturday in North Little Rock.

Darnell Arceneaux, who started all 24 games in Islanders history before sitting out against the Louisville Fire, was placed on the short-term injured reserve list yesterday with a hairline fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his right (throwing) hand. That means he will miss at least the next two games.

Lineman Morrie Roe also was put on short-term injured reserve.

Tillis, who also plays wide receiver and defensive back, played in the first eight games but didn't amass any statistics.

"I was primarily the holder (on place-kicking attempts)," Tillis said. "I played a little bit of receiver at the beginning of the year; on defense I didn't play too much."

Tillis showed great poise against the Fire, completing 17 of 30 passes for 250 yards and a franchise record-tying six touchdowns in a 67-48 victory.

"I've been practicing all year, playing a backup role (at quarterback), and I'm ready to play whenever my team calls for me," he said.

Tillis impressed wide receiver/linebacker Isaac White in the huddle.

"He looks real relaxed and confident he'll get the job done," White said. "He's pretty poised."

Tillis, who is from St. Petersburg, Fla., said he played Pop Warner football until he was 15 and played baseball in high school.

When told Tillis didn't play football in high school and college, Islanders head coach Cal Lee said: "You couldn't tell by the way he's performing here during the games."

Tillis, 31, joined the Marines after graduation and was stationed at O'ahu's Camp Smith for five years.

He played for several semipro football teams and two defunct indoor leagues in Hawai'i.

"This is how much I know, I thought he played for the University of Hawai'i," Lee said of Tillis. "I don't know why."

Tillis' backup will be Hiroki Inoue, an international squad player from Japan. Inoue was activated for the first time last week.

"I'm impressed with Hiro," Lee said. "He does some good things out here and I would not have a problem if he were to go in there and play."

The Islanders, who have won four games in a row, are one game ahead of the Wichita Stealth (6-3) in the National West Division. The Twisters are second in the National Central Division.

Arkansas beat the visiting Islanders last season, 83-73. The points surrendered and points scored by the Islanders in that game still stand as franchise records.

"I think it'll be high scoring again for us anyway, I don't know about them," White said.

Notes: Saturday's game will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. (HST) on KUMU2 AM 1500. ... The Islanders are 2-2 on the road; the Twisters are 2-1 at home. ... The Wichita Stealth will play at the Tennessee Valley Vipers (8-0), the only undefeated team in the 27-team af2.

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