Islanders fall, 91-77

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Islanders' Anthony Arceneaux is off and running. He set an af2 record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Davis' Riptide won a shootout over the Islanders, 91-77, at Blaisdell Arena in the highest scoring arenafootball2 game in the league's five-year history.

"That's what the game is all about, lots of scoring," said Davis, in his first year as San Diego's head coach.

The previous record for points in an af2 game was 165 set in the Arkansas Twisters' 102-63 win over the Tulsa Talons on June 22, 2003.

It was also the most points allowed and scored by the Islanders (5-3) in franchise history. The previous team records were set in an 83-73 loss to Arkansas in 2002 — the Islanders' first year of existence.

The loss ruined a spectacular performance by the Islanders' Anthony Arceneaux, who tied an af2 record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns.

"Those were courtesy of great blocks by my big boys up front," said Arceneaux, who finished with six kickoff returns for 254 yards. "They busted their butts to get on guys, giving me lanes and holes to get in. Anybody could have returned those in my eyes."

San Diego (3-5) seized control by converting three fumble recoveries and an interception in the third quarter into touchdowns.

Fumbles by receiver Nate Jackson on the Islanders' first two possessions of the second half allowed San Diego to go up 56-42 with 8:58 left in the third.

"I don't think it was a matter of him trying to do too much," Islanders head coach Cal Lee said of Jackson. "They hit him and the ball comes loose. It happens in Pop Warner, high school, midgets, college and pros."

Late in the third, Arceneaux couldn't catch Rich Ehmke's kickoff off the end zone rebound net and San Diego's Nakoa McElrath fell on the ball in the end zone to make it 70-48.

San Diego's Ryan Smith intercepted a pass from Darnell Arceneaux on the final play of the quarter, which led to a 22-yard pass from Kane Claunch to receiver McElrath. The score allowed the Riptide to take their largest lead at 77-48.

"In the second half, we came out and got turnovers," Davis said. "Turnovers are huge in this game. "

The Islanders closed to 84-77 on a touchdown pass from Darnell Arceneaux to Anthony Arceneaux and a two-point conversion run, but San Diego's Marty Graham recovered Kimo Naehu's on-side kick with 42 seconds left. The Riptide tacked on a touchdown pass from Claunch to McElrath 10 seconds later.

"This was a high scoring game; exciting for the fans, players and coaches," Lee said.

Anthony Arceneaux's first kickoff return for a score was from 54 yards and tied the score at 35 with 51.2 seconds remaining in the first half.

After a San Diego touchdown pass with 14.5 seconds left, Arceneaux caught the ball off the end zone rebound net, started up the middle, reversed field to the left sideline and cut back across the grain to tie the score at 42 with 4 seconds left before halftime.

"One time we had a really good coverage on him, we waited and boom," Davis said.

Arceneaux also saw a kickoff return for a touchdown negated by a holding penalty early in the first quarter, which placed the ball at the Riptide 20. The Islanders scored four plays later to tie the score at 7.

Arceneaux's third kickoff return for a touchdown was a 56-yarder, which made the score 77-55 with 12:39 left in the game.

Claunch finished 27 of 37 for 379 yards and seven touchdowns.

Former University of Hawai'i receiver Dwight Carter caught nine passes for 90 yards and a touchdown for San Diego.

"We came here to take care of business and we got it done," Carter said.

San Diego has won two straight, including a home victory over the No. 1-ranked Quad City Steamwheelers last week.

"We've been tough all year," Claunch said. "We've lost three games by a total of seven points. It was our time to win."

It was a sweet win for Davis, who was an Islanders' consultant last season.

"You always like to beat your buddies," he said. "They're great guys."

The Islanders fell to 3-1 at home and the Riptide improved to 1-3 on the road.

The Islanders' next game is at the Bakersfield Blitz next Saturday.

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