The arenafootball2 game went down to the very end and Islanders defensive lineman Tiki Sagapolutele made sure the Blitz didn't reach the end zone and steal a victory.

Sagapolutele stopped fullback Ben McCombs just short of the goal line on the game's final play to preserve a 45-40 victory before 3,678 at Blaisdell Arena.

"We so happened to call the 'pinch' and that's where our linemen slant inside and the linebackers scrape outside and we just basically stack up on the goal line," Sagapolutele said. "That's how we made that stop."

The victory moved the Islanders into sole possession of first place in the West Division at 3-1. Bakersfield fell to 2-2.

Bakersfield started the final drive at its 13 with 30 seconds remaining. Chad Elliott completed a 19-yard pass to Nathan Munson and a 13-yarder to Eric Mahanke to put the ball at the Islanders 5.

A defensive pass interference penalty on Joshua Robinson put the ball at the 1. After an incompletion with 3 seconds remaining, McCombs took a hand off and headed up the middle where he was nailed by Sagapolutele and driven backward.

McCombs had scored on the same play twice in the first half, but the Islanders defense was ready for him when it counted most.

"In the first half they ran that fullback and just slammed it up in there and we were in a base where the ends were coming off the edge," said Islanders defensive coordinator Doug Semones. "So we said go 'pinch' and (the linemen) come inside the a-gaps down low and submarine the guys and create a pile and let the linebacker fill and plug."

The Islanders scored 21 consecutive points in the second half, and rallied from a 33-21 second-half deficit.

"We were down (12 points), and you just keep playing and try to set yourself up for opportunities," said Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, who completed 9 of his first 10 passes of the second half for 80 yards.

Islanders lineman Mose Tuia recovered a fumble by teammate Vai Notoa in the end zone to cut the Islanders' deficit to 33-28 midway through the third quarter. Arceneaux's 14-yard scoring pass to Robert Kemfort and an 8-yard run by Notoa put the Islanders up 42-33 midway through the fourth.

The Blitz closed to 42-40 on a 20-yard pass from Elliott to Mahanke with 4:30 left, and Islanders kicker Kimo Naehu booted a 19-yard field goal with 34 seconds left to put the Islanders up by five.

Islanders wide receiver Aaron Smith stretches to his tippy-toes to try to make a catch in the first quarter. Smith couldn't pull it in. Defending is the Blitz's Delvin Myles.

"You have to be awfully proud of our defense the way they battled and gave us the opportunity to win," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said. "And on the last play of the game we came up with a huge play by our defensive unit — all those guys. What a way to win a game."

Arceneaux finished 18 of 28 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for two scores. In the second half, he was 11 of 13.

"As a quarterback he's a competitor," Lee said. "He'll do a good job and he did it tonight as well."

Elliott was 28 of 40 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. He completed his first 11 passes and finished the first half 16 of 21 for 176 yards.

"That guy was perfect in the first half, he was amazing, I couldn't believe the throws he was making," Semones said. "We started to get a rhythm to where they were going and I called better coverages."

The Islanders play at Bossier-Shreveport (La.) Friday.

"It feels like I'm on top of the world right now, but other than that we got to get back on Monday at practice and do the same thing and get ready for the next game," Sagapolutele said.

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

• Bakersfield Blitz (2-2) 13 17 3 7—40
• Hawaiian Islanders (3-1) 7 14 14 10—45

BB—Ben McCombs 2 run (Brian Walker kick)

HI—Nian Taylor 45 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Kimo Naehu kick)

BB—Nathan Munson 4 pass from Chad Elliott (kick failed)

HI—Arceneaux 2 run (Naehu kick)

BB—Eric Mahanke 6 pass from Elliott (Mahanke from Elliott)

HI—Arceneaux 16 run (Naehu kick)

BB—safety, McCombs sack Arceneaux in end zone

BB—McCombs 2 run (Walker kick)

BB—FG Walker 47

HI—Mose Tuia fumble recovery in end zone (Naehu kick)

HI—Robert Kemfort 14 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)

HI—Vai Notoa 8 run (Naehu kick)

BB—Mahanke 20 pass from Elliott (Walker kick)

HI—FG Naehu 19

RUSHING—Bakersfield: McCombs 3-4. Islanders: Arceneaux 5-22, Notoa 5-16, Keiki Misipeka 2-4, Anthony Arceneaux 1-(minus 2), Tuia 0-0.

PASSING—Bakersfield: Elliott 28-40-0—304, team minus-17. Islanders: Arceneaux 18-28-0—278, team minus-5.