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[ARENA FOOTBALL]



Hopeful Islanders
see glass as half full

Although the team has won
just 1 of 7 games, the playoffs
are a possibility


By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.com

If you're a pessimist, the 1-6 Hawaiian Islanders are hopelessly mired in a rut.

But if you're an optimist, the Islanders are only two games out of an arenafootball2 playoff spot with more than half of the 16-game season left.

The Islanders would like to revisit a place it's been just once -- the win column.

And winning again might not be as far away as it seems. The Islanders are in California to play the Fresno Frenzy (2-5) today at 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time. In the season opener at the Blaisdell Arena, the Islanders beat the National Conference West Division rival 50-47.

But the Islanders have suffered through a six-game losing streak since then, while Fresno has won two games in a row after five losses to begin the season.

With four sacks and two fumble recoveries last weekend, the Frenzy beat San Diego (3-4), the division's second-place team, 49-37.

Fresno and the Islanders are chasing San Diego for the second of two divisional playoff spots.

"That game (the season opener) could have gone either way," Islanders coach Chad Carlson said. "And Fresno has definitely improved since then, and even though our record doesn't show it, we've improved by leaps and bounds, too."

Chris Paogofie, who is second on the team in tackles with 17.5, is back after sitting out last week's 73-48 loss to Tulsa to let some bumps and bruises heal.

Niko Vitale, the ultimate fighter and former University of Hawaii player, was signed by the Islanders earlier this week. He practiced at wide receiver and defensive back but didn't make the trip. He is expected to be on the roster for next week's game at San Diego.

This will be the first game in an Islanders uniform for 36-year-old quarterback Erik Wilhelm, who spent nine years as a backup in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.

Carlson will make a game-time decision on his starting quarterback.

Wilhelm's future role isn't completely clear. He'll either play a great deal or play sparingly while mentoring Darnell Arceneaux, who has thrown 18 touchdown passes and rushed for nine more scores.

In the first meeting between the two teams, Fresno got a clutch performance from former UH defensive back Eddie Klaneski, who caught a 35-yard TD pass to give the Frenzy a 47-44 lead with 52 seconds left. Arceneaux sealed the Islanders' win by bursting in for a 1-yard score with seven seconds to go.

Klaneski has played in five games, rushing for 60 yards on eight carries, catching 12 passes for 166 yards and four TDs, and making eight solo tackles and eight assisted tackles.

Carlson knows the Islanders' defense could be the key.

"They're fast and talented and we've got to match up with their receivers," he said. "That's the name of this game, and, of course, we've got to get some pressure on the quarterback as soon as possible."

Carlson has been impressed with the steady and fierce play of linebackers Isaac White, Josh White and Derek Zoller, and said Avion Weaver "is a guy I want around because of the serious way he approaches the game."

"And Morrie Roe, Andy Ramos and Olen Rosehill on the line have been playing great, and Al Noga has been doing a good job coaching them," Carlson added.

"It's time for us to all step up and get every detail right."

Islanders lineman Mose Tuia will be out for a few weeks with some health problems and Jerry Leano will take his place.

Notes: Today's game can be heard on tape delay on KCCN 1420-AM following the UH vs. Fresno baseball game, which starts at 4 p.m. ... The Islanders' next home game is against the Peoria Pirates (5-2) on June 8. ... When the team returns home tomorrow night, it will have traveled 28,623 miles on four trips.



Hawaiian Islanders


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