DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Hawaiian Islanders stepped up their defensive pressure to end a nine-game losing streak. Derek Zoller sacked San Diego's Kane Claunch on Friday.
Sometimes all you've got to do is try, and Kimo Naehu is proof. Naehu’s turning pro
provided kick-startBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comNaehu stepped on to a professional football field for the first time last Friday night, and enjoyed immediate success.
The former Waipahu High School kicker played a role in the Hawaiian Islanders' 53-34 victory over the San Diego Riptide at the Blaisdell Arena.
Maybe Naehu is the good-luck charm the Islanders (2-9) needed. The team had lost nine straight games before winning for the first time since the season-opener on March 30.
The 6-foot, 200-pounder kicked field goals of 25 and 35 yards, and was 3-for-5 on extra points. He also missed a 49-yard field goal try.
Naehu played for Bethel College in Kansas for two years.
"I got back (to Hawaii) and asked Coach Chad (Carlson) to give me a look and he gave me a look," Naehu said.
Naehu replaced Jake Huggins, who had done all of Hawaii's kicking in the previous 10 games.
"Jake Huggins helped me a lot," Naehu said. "He was cool. He didn't get mad that he wasn't playing. It's a family feeling on this team, and I'm glad I got the chance to play."
The competition for the kicking job is likely to help both players' performances.
Huggins' nine field goals ranked fourth in the league going into last weekend. But he has missed 19 attempts. He is also 31 of 47 on extra points.
Naehu's midseason tryout and eventual playing time may draw other capable players to the Islanders. According to director Carl Vincenti, any player who asks gets a tryout.
"I'm glad to represent Hawaii," Naehu said. "I was really excited playing in the game and didn't get too nervous."
Other debuts: Two players from Japan -- Rikiya Ishida and Satomi Kohei -- also made their professional debuts for the Islanders against the Riptide.
Both have been on the Islanders roster since the beginning of the season, but were unable to play because of problems with their work visas.
According to a league source, their work visas are still going through government processing, and they might not be able to play Saturday at Bakersfield.
Kohei, a 5-10, 190-pound defensive specialist, made 1 1/2 tackles against San Diego.
At 6-2, 260 pounds, Ishida played on special teams and on the defensive line. He's listed as a fullback/linebacker.
Ishida was a captain for Kwansei Gakuin University, while Kohei played for Ritsumeikan University and played last year for Amsterdam in the World League of American Football.
'I' is for inspired football: The Islanders dominated nearly every facet of the game against the Riptide, playing with an intensity several notches above previous outings.
The new-found passion proved to be the difference between a close loss and a win, and it was particularly noticeable on defense. The Islanders didn't just tackle. They tackled thoroughly and with emphasis.
In addition, the defensive line created loads of pressure on San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch and often forced him out of the pocket or to throw too early.
On the downside, the Islanders' defensive backfield, despite delivering hard hits after catches, gave up a handful of easy touchdowns to wide-open San Diego receivers. Yielding long touchdown passes to wide-open targets has been a recurring problem for the Islanders.
