Home-opener wait over for Islanders
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Head coach Cal Lee and starting quarterback Darnell Arceneaux prepared for tonight's season opener with a practice at Aloha Stadium on Thursday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser Game facts Who: Bossier-Shreveport (La.) Battle Wings (1-1) vs. Hawaiian Islanders (1-1) Where: Blaisdell Arena When: 6:30 tonight Admission: $25 lower bowl (reserved); $15 upper bowl sidelines (reserved); $10 upper bowl end zones (general); $7 youths. Parking is $3. TV/radio: None/live on 1500 AM Special promotions: Family Fanfest from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Blaisdell parking lot. Free. Appearance by Kikaida Halftime show: "Night of Champions." The state champion Kahuku and 'Aiea football teams, Iolani boys basketball team and the Kahuku wrestling team will be honored. |
The team's arenafootball2 home opener is tonight and general manager Chris Dey is expecting a crowd of nearly 5,000 at Blaisdell Arena for the game against the Bossier-Shreveport (La.) Battle Wings. Kickoff is set for 6:30.
The Islanders (1-1) started their season March 27 with a 68-35 road victory over the Central Valley Coyotes (Fresno, Calif.). Following a bye week, the Islanders lost at the Louisville Fire, 37-35, on April 10.
The Islanders are eager to be the home team tonight.
"They've been away; they've played in front of pretty hostile crowds," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said. "Being here with their family, their friends, that's got to be a good feeling. It's got to get you motivated to come out and play well."
Dey said the team sold 1,479 season tickets as of yesterday afternoon, up from 1,250 last season and just 16 in 2002. He also said the team has sold a lot of single-game tickets to the opener and expects a large number of walk-up sales.
The Islanders last season averaged an announced crowd of 3,458 in eight games at 6,443-seat Blaisdell Arena.
The Islanders are coming off an 11-7 season and Western Division championship. In their inaugural season, they were 5-11.
"We're coming off a successful season last year. The interest level was higher," Dey said when asked about the increased ticket sales.
The Islanders blew a 14-point lead late in the first half against Louisville last week, but lineman Andy Ramos said his teammates are charged up and ready to go tonight.
"Our confidence is really good," Ramos said. "Everybody is really focusing in more. The energy level is good and we should be going good this week."
Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux completed 18 of 26 passes for 277 yards and six touchdowns in the opener, but fell to 17 of 41 for 207 yards and four touchdowns last week. Also, Gabe Amey, the team's leading receiver last week with seven catches for 108 yards, was placed on short-term injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
Lee said Bossier-Shreveport is "almost in the same boat as we are" after the Battle Wings won their season opener March 27 and lost last week.
Quarterback Sherard Poteete is 27 of 54 for 245 yards and six touchdowns, but Lee is also concerned about his ability to run. Poteete leads the team with 12 attempts and 47 rushing yards this season.
"They have a quarterback who likes to run the ball; they come out of the shotgun formation," Lee said. "They have some great receivers they can throw to."
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.
