Islanders' leading receiver leaves team

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

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What: arenafootball2 game Who: Central Valley (Fresno, Calif.) Coyotes (1-5) vs. Hawaiian Islanders (4-2) 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 $5. TV/radio: None/live on 1500 AM Family fanfest: From 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Blaisdell parking lot. Free. Military Appreciation Night: General admission tickets only $5 for fans presenting military ID at Blaisdell box office.

Miller, a rookie offensive specialist, left the team and returned home to Long Island, N.Y., on Wednesday, according to Islanders head coach Cal Lee.

Miller played in four of six games and led the Islanders (4-2) with 19 receptions and 274 yards.

Craig Stutzmann replaced Miller at offensive specialist two weeks ago at San Diego and finished with two receptions for 19 yards in a 55-54 victory.

"He's going to be a good player," Lee said of Miller. "Right now because of Craig we have two guys. He's going to try and hook up with (another team) closer to his home."

Lee added there was no ill will on Miller's part and the two embraced after their last conversation.

"There were no hard feelings," Lee said. "All this is a numbers thing. It's kind of like a business here. Everybody's working out and competing. He needs to go where he can play more."

Stutzmann and Nate Jackson (6 receptions, 86 yards), a receiver/linebacker, made their Islanders' debuts in San Diego and will be in the lineup again tonight against the Central Valley (1-5).

"We have to be a little excited," Lee said. "That being their first game, we were very pleased with their performance. We're looking for good things from them for the upcoming game."

Filling out the other receiver positions tonight will be Randyn Akiona, Nian Taylor and Anthony Arceneaux, who was recently activated from the short-term injured list with bruised ribs.

Islanders hoping for repeat: The Islanders recorded their biggest winning margin in franchise history after beating Central Valley, 68-35, on March 27.

The Coyotes picked up their first win of the season last week against Rio Grand Valley (Hidalgo, Texas), 42-31, and Lee expects a tougher game against Central Valley tonight.

"It's a new ballgame six weeks later; I don't know if they got any better, but I sure hope we did," he said. "You've got to go after them and play them like they're a championship team. You've got to go in there focused and you can't look at six weeks before or what you did last time you played them because that's like poison."

Spreading the wealth: Islander receivers have taken turns sharing the spotlight this season.

In six games, six receivers have led the team in receptions and five in receiving yards.

"If you mix it around it makes the defense play you more honest," quarterback Darnell Arceneaux said. "As long as you spread it around it pleases the guys because everybody has been working hard. If they work hard I'm going to try to get them the rock."

Miller, Aaron Smith, Anthony Arceneaux, Taylor and Robert Kemfort have at least 13 receptions and 199 receiving yards.

Injury report: Lineman Evile Puna (foot) was placed on short-term IR during last week's bye and lineman Antoine Simpson (concussion) was activated. This week, fullback/linebacker Keiki Misipeka (hamstring) was placed on short-term IR. Anthony Arceneaux (ribs) and lineman Morrie Roe (calf) were activated.