FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaiian Islander Vai Notoa looked for some yards last night.
Islanders defense
wins big
It took a while for the Hawaiian Islanders offense to get rolling last night. But by then the defense had them well on their way to a 51-43 win over the San Diego Riptide in last night's arenafootball2 contest at Blaisdell Arena.
The Islanders defense, which entered the game without a takeaway, returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the game's opening moments and shut out the Riptide in the second quarter to spur the team to a 27-10 halftime lead.
The offense was able to trade scores with the Riptide in the second half as the Islanders improved to 3-1 overall and evened their record in the af2 National West Division to 1-1. San Diego fell to 2-2 and is also 1-1 in the division.
"The defense played awfully well," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "Not only those two interceptions, but all through the contest the defense really stepped it up.
"The staff looked at the stats for the first three games and we had no turnovers. They challenged the defensive unit to come up with some big turnovers. ... We had two interceptions for touchdowns and in this league, that's awfully good."
Hawaii defensive back/receiver Darrell Jones scored on an interception return and a touchdown pass and Chris Paogofie powered his way to two scoring runs to lead the Islanders to the win.
San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch passed for 175 yards and four touchdowns, all of the scores coming in the fourth quarter. But the Riptide comeback ran out of time.
The game started with a bang as Jones picked off a Wesley Phillips pass and returned it 20 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage.
"All these games we hadn't had (a turnover)," Jones said. "The ball would be on the ground, we wouldn't come up with it. Hit us in the hand, couldn't pick it off. But tonight we came up with it."
Jesus Reyes answered for San Diego by fielding the ensuing kickoff off the net and racing 55 yards for a touchdown.
The Islanders reclaimed the lead on San Diego's next possession. In a replay of the Islanders' first score, Isaac White intercepted a Phillips pass and returned it 20 yards for another defensive score.
"That's 14 points out of our pocket and it gives them 14, so it's almost a 28-point swing," San Diego coach Cree Morris said. "They played hard and hat's off to Hawaii."
Islanders kicker Kimo Naehu began the second quarter by nailing a field goal from his own goal line.
After a defensive stop, Paogofie extended the Islanders' lead by breaking through three tackles en route to the end zone. Naehu added another field goal with 18.4 seconds left to give the Islanders a 27-10 advantage.
The Islanders limited the Riptide to 39 yards in total offense in the first half.
The teams traded rushing touchdowns to open the third quarter and Naehu hit a 26-yard field goal to give the Islanders a 37-17 lead heading into the final period.
After a San Diego score, Paogofie responded by bouncing off the wall and spinning free from a swarm of Riptide defenders to score on a 30-yard run.
The Riptide cut into the Islanders' lead with two late touchdowns, the last coming with 1.9 seconds left.
Paogofie was named the game's most valuable player, Hawaii defensive back Eddie Klaneski was named the defensive player of the game. Isaac White won the Ironman award.
Notes: Phillips suffered a similar fate in Hawaii in 2001. While playing for UTEP, two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns by the University of Hawaii. ... The Islanders hit the road again this week for a division game at Wichita on Saturday. ... Nian Taylor, the Islanders' leading scorer with six touchdowns, left the game in the first quarter after aggravating an injury to his Achilles' tendon suffered in practice on Thursday. ... Former University of Hawaii receiver Dwight Carter played sparingly on defense for San Diego.
At Blaisdell Arena
San Diego Riptide (2-2) 10 0 7 26 -- 43 Hawaiian Islanders (3-1) 14 13 10 14 -- 51 FIRST QUARTER
HI--Darrell Jones 20 interception return (Kimo Naehu kick)
SD--Jesus Reyes 56 kickoff return (Ryan Geisler kick)
HI--Isaac White 20 interception return (Naehu kick)
SD--FG Giesler 37
SECOND QUARTER
HI--FG Naehu 57
HI--Chris Paogofie 15 run (Naehu kick)
HI--FG Naehu 18
THIRD QUARTER
HI--Vai Notoa 7 run (Naehu kick)
SD--Kane Claunch 3 run (Geisler kick)
HI--FG Naehu 26
FOURTH QUARTER
SD--Eddie Miller 10 pass from Claunch (Giesler kick)
HI--Paogofie 30 run (Naehu kick)
SD--Miller 11 pass from Claunch (kick failed)
HI--Jones 19 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD--Jerry Garrett 12 pass from Claunch (Giesler kick)
SD--Reyes 13 pass from Claunch (kick failed)
RUSHING -- Riptide: Kane Claunch 4-21; Marty Graham 1-(-2). Islanders: Chris Pagofie 4-61; Vai Notoa 3-12; Darnell Arceneaux 4- (-3).
PASSING -- Riptide: Claunch 15-27-0-175; Wesley Phillips 2-8-2-17. Islanders: Arceneaux 14-30-0-166.
RECEIVING -- Riptide: Jesus Reyes 6-69; Eddie Miller 6-62; Marty Graham 1-18; Jerry Garrett 3-32; Altie Parker 1-11. Islanders: Leroy Shelton 3-43; Robert Kemfort 4-40; Darrell Jones 3-37; Isaac White 3-35; Nian Taylor 1-11.
Hawaiian Islanders
