MOLINE, Ill. >> A week after finding out what it would take to be among the best in their division, the Hawaiian Islanders learned yesterday what it will take to be among the best in Arenafootball2. Islanders blown out on road
From staff and wire reports
The Islanders allowed the defending champion Quad City Steamwheelers to score in each of their first seven possessions and blow the Islanders out 69-39.
The Steamwheelers have won 16 straight games dating back to last year and have never lost at home in their 24-game history.
"I think we're a good physical football team that can match up with anyone," Islanders coach Guy Benjamin said. "But we're a young team and we made some mistakes tonight."
Quad City quarterback Tony Zimmerman accounted for nine of his team's 10 touchdowns, throwing for seven and running for two. He passed for 298 yards, 127 of them to game MVP Ira Gooch for four of the scores.
With Quad City marching down the field so easily, Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux was pressured into three interceptions while completing only three touchdown passes. He had not thrown an interception in his first two games. Arceneaux finished 16-for-32 for 184 yards.
Phil Austin led the Islanders on the defensive side with five solo tackles, while William Lackey had four stops and the Islanders' first interception of the season.
"We don't have a lot of great pass defenders, so if there is a receiver with any amount of skills, that man can have a good game," Benjamin said.
The Islanders will get another shot at the Steamwheelers on July 20 at the Blaisdell Center.
Steamwheelers 69, Islanders 39
At Moline, Ill.
Islanders (1-2) 10 7 13 9 -- 39 Steamwheelers (3-0) 28 19 9 13 -- 69 QC -- Tony Zimmerman 1 run (Brian Hegnauer kick)
HI -- FG Jake Huggins 44
QC -- Jeff Hewitt 13 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick)
HI -- Robert Kemfort 39 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Huggins kick)
QC -- Ira Gooch 16 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick)
QC -- Gooch 5 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick)
QC -- Chris Anthony 9 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick)
QC -- Gooch 10 pass from Zimmerman (pass failed)
HI -- Danny Katoa 1 run (Huggins kick)
QC -- Gooch 6 pass from Zimmerman (kick failed)
HI -- Darrell Jones 3 pass from Arceneaux (Huggins kick)
HI -- Isaac White 1 run (kick failed)
QC -- FG Hegnauer 20
QC -- Dan McMullen 7 interception return (kick failed)
HI -- Morrie Roe 17 pass from Arceneaux (pass failed)
QC -- Josh Fourdyce 13 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick)
HI -- FG Huggins 23
QC -- Zimmerman 3 run (kick failed)RUSHING -- Islanders: White 2-9, Katoa 2-5, Derek Zoller 1-0, Arceneaux 4-(-5). Steamwheelers: Zimmerman 2-4, Fran Trentadus 1-4, Fourdyce 1-2.
PASSING -- Islanders: Arceneaux 16-32-3-184, Chris Paogofie 0-1-0-0 . Steamwheelers: Zimmerman 25-36-1-298.
RECEIVING -- Islanders : Jones 6-43, White 4-43, Kemfort 2-46, Roe 2-29, Paogofie 1-13, Zoller 1-10. Steamwheelers : Gooch 10-127, Anthony 8-85, Hiawatha Phifer 3-33, Hewitt 2-23, McMullen 1-17, Fourdyce 1-13.
Hawaiian Islanders