[ARENA FOOTBALL]
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux ran for this touchdown during the May 11 loss to the San Diego Riptide.
There have been many thorns in the helmets of the Hawaiian Islanders, but none more nettlesome than the San Diego Riptide. Islanders play familiar Riptide
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe arenafootball2 teams tussle for the third time this season, tonight at 7:30 at the Blaisdell Arena.
The Islanders (1-9) lost the previous two meetings by a combined 12 points --52-50 on a last-second field goal at home and 44-34 at the San Diego Sports Arena.
"That first game, we thought we securely finished them off, scoring (with seven seconds left) and we ended up losing with three seconds left. That was tough on us," Islanders coach Chad Carlson said.
It's the first Friday game for the Islanders, who usually play on Saturdays, but moved the game up due to WWE wrestling matches at the Blaisdell tomorrow.
Islanders director Carl Vincenti is hoping the Friday night game will boost attendance, which lagged last week, due in part to other events happening at the same time, including the Tyson-Lewis fight.
San Diego (5-5) is coming off a 46-43 National Conference West Division upset victory over first-place Bakersfield (6-3). The Islanders are four games behind the Riptide for the division's final playoff spot with six games left.
"We've had some great meetings with them and built up sort of a rivalry," Carlson said. "I'm expecting another tough, competitive battle."
The Islanders will be without Chris Paogofie, who is still recovering from broken ribs. He is expected to return next week.
Niko Vitale, who scored two touchdowns in his debut last week, will also miss tonight's game because he has a prior work commitment.
There is good news on the injury front for the Islanders, however. Offensive specialist Darrell Jones and wide receiverlinebacker Isaac White are back from injuries and ready to add some spice.
Carlson said he will also use newcomer Kimo Naehu, a former Waipahu High School kicker. He didn't specify how much Naehu would play.
"Kimo will be kicking this week," the coach said. "I'm gonna give him a chance and look at his consistency. Jake (Huggins) is a good kicker, but it's all about consistency and right now is a perfect time to see who can do what."
Huggins is tied for fourth in the league in field goals made with nine. He's missed 19, and he's 31-for-47 on extra points.
San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch, who has passed for more than 200 yards twice against the Islanders, is an obvious obstacle for the defense.
One of Claunch's favorite targets is Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who burned the Islanders for two TDs in one game and made seven tackles in the other.
Two other San Diego players are well lit on the Islanders' defensive radar screen -- kicker Ryan Geisler and wide receiver/ linebacker Rico Curtis.
Geisler is responsible for stealing a victory from the Islanders with his dramatic 40-yard, game-ending field goal.
Curtis, who made 9 1/2 tackles against the Islanders in the second meeting, leads the league in tackles with 81 and in fumble recoveries with 4.
Curtis' 26-yard TD catch from Claunch lifted San Diego against Bakersfield.
Carlson and his troops remain unceasingly upbeat.
"We're a never-say-die team," he said. "We're going to come out and get the victory we deserve."
Hawaiian Islanders
