Islanders’ defense
rips ’Tide on roadCal Lee's crew holds San Diego
to just 37 points in close game
So much for home-field advantage. Apparently, there is none when the Hawaiian Islanders and San Diego Riptide play each other.
But there's plenty of excitement.
The Islanders played trade-the-lead the entire contest with the Riptide and benefited from a missed San Diego field goal on the last play to win 40-37.
A crowd of around 1,500 at the San Diego Sports Arena, including many Islanders fans, saw 10 ties and lead changes. Neither team led by more than six points at any point.
The visitors won all four times the teams played this season.
"Doesn't seem like there's an advantage playing at home," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "We saw a lot of people with Islanders shirts on."
Islanders quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen hit Gabe Amey (playing for the first time since an early-season knee injury) and Anthony Arceneaux with two touchdown passes each, including a 15-yarder to Amey with 20 seconds left for the final score. Kimo Naehu missed the extra point, giving San Diego a chance to tie with a field goal.
The Riptide started at their own 1 with 18 seconds left, and got the ball to the 24 with 1.9 seconds left when Islanders defensive back Joshua Robinson interfered with receiver Dwight Carter to stop a sure touchdown catch. Then San Diego kicker Rich Ehmke missed a 42-yard try for three points and the game ended.
It was the second win for the Islanders (7-5) at San Diego. The Riptide (5-7) won two meetings at Blaisdell Arena. The Islanders are a half-game behind Bakersfield, which they play Saturday at Blaisdell, for first place in the af2 West Division.
Withy-Allen, a former Kalaheo standout and University of Hawaii backup, started his first game at quarterback since high school. He was pressed into action because starter Darnell Arceneaux was unavailable due to another commitment.
Withy-Allen settled down after throwing an interception in the first series and completed 20 of 33 passes for 223 yards and rushed for a score. He spread the ball among Nian Taylor (eight catches for 66 yards), Amey (6-99) and Arceneaux (6-58).
"Shaky start, but the other players really rallied around him," Lee said. "They told him forget about the interception. He had great support. What a great start, to win on the road."
The Islanders defense allowed this same opponent to score 91 points at the Blaisdell in May. Last night it stonewalled the Riptide four times in the second half. That included two rare four-downs-and-out series.
"Anytime you can stop them when they take four shots like that, it's a heckuva deal," said Lee, who has had to replace several starters due to injury. "Joe Siofele, (Keali'i) Aguiar, Fabian (Manumaleuna), Vai (Natoa). Everybody was contributing. The pressure on the quarterback was the key."
San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch completed 17 of 36 passes for 237 yards. He threw TDs of 21 and 31 yards to Jesus Reyes. Reyes also recovered a fumble in the end zone for another touchdown.
BACK TO TOP |
Islanders 40, Riptide 37
At San Diego Sports Arena
SDR--Ryan Cuthbert 1 run (kick failed)
Islanders (7-5) 7 13 7 13 -- 40 San Diego Riptide (5-7) 13 10 7 7 -- 37
HI--Chauncey Ako 1 run (Kimo Naehu kick)
SDR--Jesus Reyes 21 pass from Kane Claunch (Rich Ehmke kick)
HI--Anthony Arceneaux 5 pass from Shawn Withy-Allen (Naehu kick)
SDR--Reyes 31 pass from Claunch (Ehmke kick)
HI--Gabe Amey 30 pass from Withy-Allen (kick failed)
SDR--FG Ehmke 46
HI--Withy-Allen 5 run (Naehu kick)
SDR--Reyes 0 fumble recovery (Ehmke kick)
HI--A. Arceneaux 13 pass from Withy-Allen (Naehu kick)
SDR--Nakoa McElrath 22 pass from Claunch (Ehmke kick)
HI--Amey 16 pass from Withy-Allen (kick failed)RUSHING--Islanders: Withy-Allen 4-11, Ako 1-1. Riptide: Cuthbert 2-5, Rob Moore 1-0, Claunch 2-(-1).
PASSING--Islanders: Withy-Allen 20-33-2-223. Riptide: Claunch 17-36-0-237.
RECEIVING--Islanders: Nian Taylor 8-66, Amey 6-99, A. Arceneaux 6-58. Riptide: McElrath 7-96, Reyes 3-63, Marty Graham 3-54, Dwight Carter 3-19, Rico Curtis 1-5.
