"I'd just like to say Cal Lee has my vote for Coach of the Year," said Ingold, whose team has won nine in a row. "In this league, it's not x's and o's; it's about recruiting, and he's gotten the best players in Hawai'i to play for him."

The Islanders, coming off a 5-11 inaugural season, are 9-3 in 2003.

When told of the compliment by Ingold, Lee said: "Not at all, there are too many good coaches out there. I appreciate the comment from Rich."

Quad City (9-2) and the Islanders will meet tomorrow night at 7:30 at Blaisdell Arena in a battle of arenafootball2 division leaders.

Both teams are on the verge of clinching playoff berths.

The Islanders, who are a game up on the Wichita Stealth (8-4) in the National West Division, will qualify for the playoffs with a win against the Steamwheelers. If the Islanders lose, they can still get in this week with losses by two of the following three teams (Bakersfield Blitz, 5-7; Memphis Xplorers, 4-7; and Peoria Pirates 4-7).

The Steamwheelers will clinch a playoff berth and the National Midwest Division title with a win against the Islanders. Quad City (Ill.) also will clinch both if it and Peoria both lose this week. If Quad City loses and Peoria wins, the Steamwheelers will clinch a playoff spot with a loss by Memphis.

Tomorrow night's showdown takes on added significance because the two division champions with the best overall records receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The other four teams in each conference will play in the opening round.

The Steamwheelers, Islanders and the Tulsa Talons (10-2), of the National Central Division, have the inside track on the top two spots.

"This is what we've been waiting on all season, for a really great team to come into Hawai'i and here it is. Let's do it," Islanders wide receiver/defensive back Darrell Jones said.

The last two games between the Steamwheelers and Islanders have gone down to the wire with the Islanders pulling out one-point victories.

The Islanders beat Quad City in their final home game last season, 56-55, by rallying from a 21-0 deficit early in the second quarter. The Islanders scored the winning points on a 9-yard pass from Darnell Arceneaux to Nian Taylor with nine seconds remaining, and a two-point conversion pass from Arceneaux to Taulia Lave.