MOLINE, Ill. >> The Hawaiian Islanders' 4,000-mile trek from Moline to Honolulu today won't seem quite so arduous thanks to a thrilling 53-52 arenafootball2 victory over Quad City. Islanders barely
get road victoryFrom staff and wire reports
"I don't know how other people feel about flying 14 or 15 hours, but it's going to be a very enjoyable trip back," Islanders coach Cal Lee said after last night's win.
A missed extra-point attempt with 12 seconds left proved to be the difference as the Islanders improved to 2-0 and spoiled Quad City's season-opener. Quad City had won 22 of its last 24 regular-season games at The MARK of the Quad Cities arena dating back to the 2000 campaign.
Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux threw for 202 yards and four touchdowns, and Chris Paogofie rushed for two scores as Hawaii overcame a nine-point third-quarter deficit to pull out the win.
"It was a long trip, but the guys settled down and knew what they came up here for," Lee said. "They never gave up, played their hearts out."
Arceneaux completed an 8-yard touchdown toss to Darrell Jones with 55 seconds left to give the Islanders the lead for good.
Quad City put itself in position to send the game into overtime by scoring with 12 seconds remaining. But Brian Hegnauer's kick banged off the upright to preserve the win for the Islanders.
"Sometimes you take it for granted that the PAT is automatic, but the good Lord was on our side," Lee said.
Quad City quarterback Tony Zimmerman completed 21 of 38 passes for 265 yards. He threw five touchdown passes -- three to Randall Lane -- and rushed for another.
The first six possessions of the game ended in touchdowns and the teams went into halftime tied at 24.
After Lane's second score gave Quad City a 21-13 lead, Arceneaux hit Isaac White for a 45-yard touchdown pass. Arceneaux connected with Jones for the 2-point conversion to tie the game midway through the second quarter.
The teams went into halftime tied at 24 after the Islanders' Kimo Naehu and Hegnauer nailed field goals in the last 13 seconds of the half.
The second half opened in disaster for the Islanders. Quad City's Cory Bern sacked Arceneaux in the end zone for a safety and Jeff Hewitt extended the lead by returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.
Quad City kept the momentum rolling by recovering an onside kick. But the Islanders' defense held and Arceneaux hit Taylor for an 18-yard score to cut the deficit to 33-31.
"They hung in there and never gave up, and good things happen when you don't give up," Lee said.
Quad City held a 39-38 lead after three quarters, and the game see-sawed early in the fourth quarter as Vai Notoa scored on a 9-yard run for the Islanders and Zimmerman responded with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown.
The Islanders got the ball back with a little more than five minutes left and worked the clock down before Arceneaux hit Jones for the go-ahead score. A 2-point conversion strike to Taylor put the Islanders up 53-46.
The Steamwheelers took five plays to score as Lane caught a 6-yard touchdown pass. Hegnauer missed the PAT and Hawaii's Josh White recovered the ensuing onside kick to allow the Islanders to run out the clock.
"They were really excited ... because they feel so good about representing the Islanders and representing the whole state of Hawaii," Lee said.
Islanders 53, Steamwheelers 52
At The MARK of the Quad Cities
Islanders (2-0) 7 17 14 15 -- 53 Steamwheelers (0-1) 14 10 15 13 -- 52 First quarter
QC--Randall Lane 6 pass from Tony Zimmerman (Brian Hegnauer kick)
HI--Chris Paogofie 2 run (Kimo Naehu kick).
QC--Tim Dodge 23 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick).
Second quarter
HI--Nian Taylor 11 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (kick failed).
QC--Lane 5 pass from Zimmerman (Hegnauer kick).
HI--Isaac White 45 pass from Arceneaux (Darrell Jones pass from Arceneaux).
HI--FG Naehu 34.
QC--FG Hegnauer 47.
Third quarter
QC--Safety, Arceneaux sacked in end zone.
QC--Jeff Hewitt 52 kickoff return (Hegnauer kick).
HI--Taylor 18 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick).
QC--Dodge 19 pass from Zimmerman (kick failed).
HI--Paogofie 1 run (Naehu kick).
Fourth quarter
HI--Vai Notoa 9 run (Naehu kick).
QC--Zimmerman 2 run (Hegnauer kick).
HI--Jones 8 pass from Arceneaux (Taylor pass from Arceneaux).
QC--Lane 6 pass from Zimmerman (kick failed).
RUSHING -- Islanders: Notoa 6-44, Arceneaux 4-22, Paogofie 3-8. Steamwheelers: Zimmerman 1-2, Hewitt 2-1, Josh Fourdyce 1-0.
PASSING -- Islanders: Arceneaux 13-25-0-202. Steamwheelers: 21-38-0-265.
RECEIVING -- Islanders: Taylor 5-72, White 3-72, Feiamma Armstrong 1-29, Anthony Arceneaux 1-10, Mike Funaro 1-9, Jones 1-8, Notoa 1-2. Steamwheelers: Lane 7-99, Hewitt 6-44, Dodge 4-68, Ira Gooch 3-29, TJ Shenckloth 1-25.
Hawaiian Islanders