Islanders should get boost as injuries heal

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawaiian Islanders, who had a bye this weekend, should have four players ready to make their 2004 arenafootball2 debuts Saturday at the Louisville Fire.

"The competition, it's up for grabs," head coach Cal Lee said.

All three were placed on the injured list before the Islanders' season-opening 68-35 victory over the Central Valley Coyotes at Fresno, Calif., on March 27.

Wide receiver/linebacker Nian Taylor missed the game because of a groin injury.

The four players will try to make the 19-player travel roster for the Louisville game, which should leave head coach Cal Lee with some difficult decisions.

"The competition, it's up for grabs," Lee said. "Everybody's battling and everybody's trying to make the team better."

Last season, Klaneski was the Islanders Defensive Player of the Year after leading the team with 63 solo and 40 assisted tackles.

"I'm just going day by day and see what happens and see how long it takes to get back into the groove of things," Klaneski said.

Taylor was last season's Islanders Offensive Player of the Year after leading the team with 82 receptions, 1,246 receiving yards, 31 touchdowns and 194 points.

"Everything is cool," Taylor said. "I just have to go out there and compete for my job now."

Ah Yat (Chicago Rush) and Amey (Carolina Cobras) played in af1 last season.

When asked about next week's game against Louisville, Ah Yat said: "I'm pretty sure I'll be ready for that game."

The four players will try to break into a lineup that on March 27 included seven rookies and a handful of others who played sparingly last season.

Defensive specialists Joshua Robinson and Desmond Maul, who played in a combined three games last season, were solid in the secondary. Robinson had three solo and five assisted tackles, three pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Maul had two solo and four assisted tackles.

Anthony Arceneaux, Robert Kemfort and rookie Aaron Smith also had interceptions against Central Valley, and Channon Harris recovered a fumble.

On offense, Darnell Arceneaux completed 18 of 26 passes for 277 yards and six touchdowns, and rookie Shawn Withy-Allen was 2 of 3 for 30 yards and a touchdown.

The primary receivers were Anthony Arceneaux (five receptions for 100 yards and four TDs), rookie Mike Miller (five catches, 48 yards, one TD) and Kemfort (four catches, 90 yards, two TDs)

• Stutzmann sighting: Former Saint Louis School and University of Hawai'i receiver Craig Stutzmann showed up to his first Hawaiian Islanders practice last week.

When asked why he came out, Stutzmann said: "I teach at Kalaheo and this is more of my stress relief right now; I need to go and hit somebody."

Stutzmann, who played for UH from 1998 to 2001, added, "I miss the atmosphere more than anything."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.