Bakersfield guaranteeing win over visiting Islanders

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

If all goes right tonight, the Hawaiian Islanders will beat the host Bakersfield Blitz, retake sole possession of first place in the West Division and be partly responsible for the distribution of free tickets to future Blitz games.

Bakersfield will be holding "Guaranteed Win Night," which means if the Blitz don't beat the Islanders, everyone in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Blitz home game on June 19, or subsequent home games until the Blitz win.

Kickoff for the arenafootball2 game is set for 4 p.m. (HST) at Centennial Garden. Both teams are 5-3.

The Islanders were amused and motivated by the marketing promotion.

"Hopefully we go out there and knock some heads off and show them there's no guarantee in football, especially when you're playing the Hawaiian Islanders," said fullback/linebacker Keiki Misipeka, who was activated from the short-term injured list this week after battling a hamstring injury.

"That's motivation. We're not having that," defensive specialist Desmond Maul said.

Islanders head coach Cal Lee had this guarantee: "We're going to be there, we're going to show up and play the game. There are only two things that are guaranteed in life and (winning a game) isn't one of them."

The Islanders are coming off last week's 91-77 home loss to the San Diego Riptide, which set an af2 record for most combined points in a game.

The Islanders lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions in the second half.

"It's tough to stop somebody who gets five more opportunities to score," Lee said. "As far as making overhaul changes ... I think we need to play better."

Maul said the defense is ready to get back on the field after getting burned repeatedly against San Diego.

"We're going to come back and redeem ourselves this week," he said.

The Islanders held off the visiting Blitz, 45-40, on April 24 by stopping Bakersfield fullback Ben McCombs just short of the goal line on the game's final play.

Misipeka said he expects the Blitz to be "salty" this time around.

Despite first-place implications, Lee is looking at tonight's game like any other. There are 16 games in the regular season.

"It is for first place, but it's still eight more games," he said. "You just have to focus in on this as a big game and I'll say that for eight weeks. Last week's game was a big game, this coming week is a big game, the next week will be a big game."

The Islanders, who are 2-2 on the road this season, will return home to play the Central Valley Coyotes (Fresno, Calif.) on June 12, and San Diego on June 19.

Klaneski on mend: Islanders defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski was eligible to be activated from the long-term injured list (four weeks) this week, but he will be held out at least another week.

Klaneski partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings on April 30.

"The way he's been maneuvering out there it looks like he can play right now," Lee said. "If he feels the leg is strong enough and he gets the OK from the trainers and doctors to come back and play then we'll let him play."

Season debut: Lineman Sean Souza made the 19-player travel roster and will make his Islanders' debut today.

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