Posted on: Friday, May 28, 2004
Riptide riding wave of confidence into tonight
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
The San Diego Riptide's victory last week was shocking, while the Hawaiian Islanders' win was shaky.
Tonight, the arenafootball2 teams will meet at 6:30 at Blaisdell Arena.
The Riptide are 2-5, but things might be looking up after their 62-52 home win over the top-ranked Quad City Steamwheelers. Quad City, which fell to 6-2, was allowing a league-low 32.6 points per game entering last week.
"It was a very positive win for us," Riptide head coach Darrel "Mouse" Davis said. "Our kids played well, their kids played well."
Islanders head coach Cal Lee is well aware the Riptide could be starting to put things together.
"When you beat a team that's No. 1 in the league, No. 1 in the league in defense and you score (a lot of) points you have a great feeling of confidence going into your next game," he said.
Meanwhile, the Islanders are 5-2, but were left scratching their heads after a lackluster 54-48 win over the Central Valley (Fresno, Calif.) Coyotes. In their opening game of the season, the Islanders beat the host Coyotes, 68-35, for their largest winning margin in franchise history.
"When you perform at the level these players want to be at and you don't reach that level, there's a little bit of disappointment," Lee said. "We need to play much better this coming week or we'll be looking at an 'L' instead of a 'W.' "
The Islanders beat the host Riptide, 55-54 in overtime, three weeks ago.
The Islanders are 3-0 at home and the Riptide are 0-3 on the road this season. The Islanders lead the West Division by one game over the Bakersfield Blitz (4-3).
"From here on out I'm really expecting every team to come in here and try to knock us off," Islanders receiver/defensive back Anthony Arceneaux said. "Right now we're on top of the West and looking pretty decent. We have a bull's eye on our heads."
• Davis-Jones connection: Davis and University of Hawai'i head coach June Jones have known each other for nearly 30 years. Their years spent together in football are as follows:
Davis was Jones' head coach at Portland State from 1975-76. Jones, who transferred from UH, became an NCAA Division II record-setting quarterback using Davis' run-and-shoot offense.
Davis was head coach and Jones was a player/coach of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts in 1982.
In 1984, Davis was offensive coordinator of the United States Football League's Houston Gamblers and Jones served as his wide receivers coach.
The next season, Davis was head coach of the USFL's Denver Gold and Jones was his offensive coordinator.
In 1989-90, Davis was the offensive coordinator of the NFL's Detroit Lions and Jones was his quarterback/receivers coach.
• Former Warriors among Riptide's best: Former University of Hawai'i standouts Dwight Carter and Quincy LeJay are among San Diego's best players. Carter, an offensive specialist, leads the team with 50 receptions, 681 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He also is the primary missed field goal and kickoff returner.
LeJay, a defensive specialist, leads the Riptide with 29 solo and 19 assisted tackles, and six passes defended.
"I talked to June (before the season) and he said they are the right guys, and good people," Davis said.
Both played at UH from 1998-99 and are currently roommates.
• Nickname origin: Davis said he got his nickname "Mouse" while playing baseball in high school. "I was a freshman in high school and played varsity baseball; I was a foot shorter than everyone else," he said. "My brother threw the ball to me at second base, I dropped the ball and he said, 'Nice hands, Mouse.' "
And the nickname has stuck with him ever since.
• Yamaguchi will flip coin: Olympic gold medalist and world champion figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi will participate in the ceremonial coin toss.
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8041.
From 1994-96, Jones was head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Davis was his quarterbacks coach.
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ARENAFOOTBALL2
• Who: San Diego Riptide (2-5) vs. Hawaiian Islanders (5-2)
• Where: Blaisdell Arena
• When: 6:30 p.m. today
• Admission: $25 lower bowl (reserved); $15 upper bowl sidelines (reserved); $10 upper bowl end zones (general); $7 youths.
• Parking: $5.
• Radio: 1500 AM
• Special promotions: Meadow Gold Family FANFest from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. in Blaisdell parking lot ... $1 draft beers from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ... First 1,000 through gates get free hot dog and soda ... Former American Idol contestant Jordan Segundo will perform at halftime.
