[ARENA FOOTBALL]
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. >> Any chances of the Hawaiian Islanders playing their way into the postseason ended yesterday with a 56-48 arenafootball2 loss to Bakersfield. No playoffs for Islanders
From staff and wire reports
Chad Elliott passed for 231 yards and eight touchdowns for the Blitz in front of 5,217 fans at Centennial Arena.
Gerrick Bivins caught 12 passes for 157 and five TDs.
The Islanders (2-10) are officially eliminated from the playoffs as Bakersfield (7-4) and San Diego (6-6) picked up victories yesterday.
Hawaii's Darnell Arceneaux tied an af2 record with five rushing touchdowns and accounted for all seven Islanders touchdowns.
"We applauded Darnell Arceneaux and our defensive line tonight," said Islanders coach Chad Carlson. "I'm very proud of the guys tonight. They came out after a great victory last week and they gave me everything out on the field. We were just one break away from winning that game today."
The Islanders defense recorded a season-high three sacks, led by Tiki Sagapolutele with 112. Evile Puna, Derek Zoller and Junior Tagoai each had half a sack.
"It was exciting to see Evile Puna jump over a guy and knock the ball loose and sack the quarterback," Carlson said. "Tiki (Sagapolutele), Junior (Tagoai), Olen (Rosehill), Andy (Ramos), (Taulia) Lave, they just kept putting the pressure on this guy and we've got to stiffen our backfield again.
Hawaii was led by newcomer Dian Taylor who recorded five tackles and broke up two passes. On offense, Taylor made four receptions for 76 yards.
"Taylor only had two practices with us and came in and got 76 yards receiving and played defensive specialist for me in the third quarter," Carlson said. "What a great athlete and a great addition to our team."
Hawaii and Bakersfield play at the Blaisdell Arena on Saturday.
At Bakersfield, Calif. Blitz 56, Islanders 48
Islanders (2-10) 14 7 7 20 -- 48 Blitz (7-4) 7 21 14 14 -- 56 FIRST QUARTER
Islanders -- Mike Tillis 15 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Kimo Naehu kick).
Blitz -- Gerrick Bivins 15 pass from Chad Elliott (Jon Baker kick).
Islanders -- Arceneaux 3 run (Naehu kick).SECOND QUARTER
Blitz -- Ryan Sloth 6 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).
Blitz -- Bivins 31 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).
Islanders -- Arceneaux 2 run (Naehu kick).
Blitz -- Bivins 19 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).THIRD QUARTER
Blitz -- Bivins 7 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).
Islanders -- Arceneaux 3 run (Naehu kick).
Blitz -- Nathan Munson 21 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).FOURTH QUARTER
Islanders -- Arceneaux 6 run (Naehu kick).
Islanders -- Tillis 16 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (kick failed).
Blitz -- Munson 21 pass from Elliott (Baker kick).
Blitz -- Bivins 10 pass from Elliottt (Baker kick).
Islanders -- Arceneaux 1 run (Naehu kick).RUSHING-- Hawaiian Islanders: Arceneaux 9-39, Josh White 5-9, Derek Zoller 1-(-1). Bakersfield Blitz: Elliott 2-7, Lutu 1-2, Nathan Buergey 2-1
PASSING-- Hawaiian Islanders: Arceneaux 18-40-0-213. Bakersfield Blitz: Elliottt 20-25-0-231.
RECEIVING--Hawaiian Islanders: Tillis 7-80, Nian Taylor 4-76, Isaac White 2-23, Winters 2-19. Robert Kemfort 1-9, Taulia Lave 1-3, Tiki Sagapolutele 1-3. Bakersfield Blitz: Bivins 12-157, Munson 3-32, Sloth 2-21, Teddy Wilson 2-21, Vaughn Corley 1-6.
Hawaiian Islanders