Posted on: Sunday, May 9, 2004
Islanders pick up OT win in San Diego
Advertiser Staff
The Hawaiian Islanders were involved in their first overtime game in franchise history last night and head coach Cal Lee wanted to end it quickly.
Lee decided to go for a two-point conversion with the Islander trailing by one against the San Diego Riptide, and it paid off as quarterback Darnell Arceneaux barely crossed the goal line to lift the Islanders, 55-54.
The arenafootball2 game was played at the San Diego Sports Arena.
The Islanders' Kimo Naehu missed a 42-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to keep the game tied at 47.
On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, San Diego's Kane Claunch hit former University of Hawai'i receiver Dwight Carter on a 20-yard touchdown pass. The PAT kick made it 54-47.
The Islanders answered with a 21-yard scoring pass from Arceneaux to Channon Harris to make it 54-53.
The Islanders called a timeout and decided to go for two and the win.
"I wanted to go for two and have the ball game be over," Lee said.
Arceneaux took the snap, couldn't find a receiver and took off toward the goal line. He leaped into the air and extended the ball just over the goal line.
"He ad libbed when the passing lane was closed and he sacrificed his body," Lee said. "That's the type of play you want."
The Islanders (4-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the West Division, a half-game ahead of the idle Bakersfield Blitz. San Diego dropped to 1-4.
San Diego scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions and led 47-40 early in the fourth quarter.
But the Riptide failed to score on their final two possession, and the Islanders tied it at 47 on a 25-yard pass from Arceneaux to Channon Harris with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
After an interception by defensive specialist Joshua Robinson, the Islanders had the ball at their 4 with 53 seconds remaining.
But they barely moved the ball and didn't use proper time management.
Naehu then missed the long field-goal attempt.
"We should have called timeouts," Lee said. "Sometimes that happens when you're panicking a little bit."
Arceneaux completed 21 of 38 passes for 282 yards and six touchdowns
"It was a great win for the players," Lee said. "They believed in themselves, they battled and never gave up."
The Islanders have a bye next week and play at home against Central Valley (Fresno, Calif.) in two weeks.
Islanders newcomer Nate Jackson caught six passes for 86 yards.
SD—Marty Graham 6 pass from Kane Claunch (Burton kick)
HI—Vai Notoa 2 run (kick failed)
SD—Claunch 2 run (Burton kick)
HI—Nian Taylor 6 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Kimo Naehu kick)
SD—Dwight Carter 19 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI—Taylor 30 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD—Jesus Reyes 12 pass from Claunch (kick failed)
HI—Randyn Akiona 26 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD—Ryan Cuthbert 1 run (Burton kick)
HI—Keiki Misipeka 2 run (kick failed)
SD—Carter 9 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI—Taylor 5 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD—Matt Guardia 3 run (kick failed)
HI—Channon Harris 25 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD—Carter 20 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI—Harris 21 pass from Arceneaux (Arceneaux run)
RUSHING—Islanders: Misipeka 3--9, Akiona 1-5, Notoa 2-4. San Diego: Guardia 3-11, Cuthbert 5-10, Claunch 2-6.
PASSING—Islanders: Arceneaux 21-38-0—282. San Diego: Claunch 21-34-1—263, team 0-0-0—(minus 2).
RECEIVING—Islanders: Nate Jackson 6-86, Akiona 5-56, Harris 4-64, Taylor 4-57, Craig Stutzmann 2-19. San Diego: Carter 7-78, Nakoa McElrath 5-94, Graham 4-36, Rico Curtis 3-28, Reyes 1-12.
