Islanders’ Jones content
he’s on a contender
As a veteran of local arena football ventures past and present, Darrell Jones has endured some lean times.
He often played in front of sparse crowds at Blaisdell Arena and once took part in a barbecue chicken sale to raise money for the players' paychecks. In the Hawaiian Islanders' inaugural season last summer, he led the team in receiving but also suffered through a nine-game losing streak en route to a 5-11 record.
It was almost enough to convince him to hang up his helmet, but a modest winning streak at the end of last season led him to return for another campaign. Now the struggles of the past are making the Islanders' quest for a division championship this season even sweeter.
"I was done after the season last year," Jones said. "But the way we came together at the end of the season, I said maybe we can take it all the way this year. That's what we're striving for."
The Islanders (4-2) face the Wichita Stealth (4-2) for the second time in three weeks, tomorrow night at Blaisdell Arena with first place in the arenafootball2 National West division at stake. Kickoff is at 7:35.
"This year these guys know every game is our championship game," Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux said. "If we want this team to go all the way, we have to treat every game like it's our last. That's been our whole theme this year. We've got no reason to hold anything back."
The Islanders led most of the game in their first meeting with the Stealth and dominated the statistics, picking up 247 total yards to Wichita's 142. But several squandered scoring opportunities proved costly and Michael Dritlein's 57-yard return of a missed field goal with three seconds left gave Wichita a 36-29 win.
Despite the heartbreaking conclusion, Jones said the loss galvanized the team.
"Even when we lose the players pull together," Jones said. "You don't find that very often, because once you lose you start blaming people. Not this team."
The Islanders are 3-0 at Blaisdell Arena this season and got back on track last week with a 50-48 home win over Bakersfield.
Jones caught three passes for 24 yards, broke up two passes on defense and teamed with Eddie Klaneski on a kickoff return for a touchdown.
After Bakersfield tied the game at 36 in the fourth quarter, Jones fielded the ensuing kickoff and bolted up the middle. As he was tackled near midfield, he handed the ball to Klaneski, who took it 23 yards for the score.
"I try to explain to the young guys who are used to playing outdoor that this is indoor. It turns into backyard football," Jones said. "It's instinct. It's a fast game, you don't have anywhere to run, so you have to take advantage of it."
Although Jones and receiver Nian Taylor are capable of big plays on offense, the Islanders have been content to stay patient in recent weeks.
Arceneaux has completed nearly 60 percent of his throws in the last two games and passed for 341 yards. But he's looking to bring the quick-strike element back to the Islanders' attack.
"People are playing us zone, they're worried about our speed," Arceneaux said. "They're making me just hit the short stuff. Hopefully, this week we get back to our big plays."
Wichita counters with Dritlein, who leads af2 in scoring with 19 touchdowns. He also leads the league in all-purpose yardage (191.7 yards per game), but was held without a reception in his last game with Hawaii.
With the potential for another dramatic finish looming, Jones thinks the rising cost of entertainment elsewhere makes tomorrow's game a bargain for fans.
"Movies are what, nine, ten dollars now?" Jones said. "They're going to pay all that money to see 'The Matrix' on Thursday, so why not support us on Friday?"
Notes: The coin toss for tomorrow's game will be done by Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh. ... Former Idaho State safety Josh Robinson is trying out with the Islanders. Robinson (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) was an honorable mention All-Big Sky conference selection at ISU and was among the last players cut by the NFL's Baltimore Ravens last year. ... The Islanders are 0-2 against Wichita all-time. ... Former University of Hawaii and Islanders quarterback Jared Flint is on the Wichita roster.
Hawaiian Islanders