Every game is big,
but this one’s a little
bigger for the IslandersThe West Division leaders joust
for playoff position with
the visiting Steamwheelers
Throughout the arenafootball2 season, Hawaiian Islanders have recited a mantra of "every game is a championship game."
Tonight, the saying takes on a little more meaning.
The Islanders face the Quad City Steamwheelers at Blaisdell Arena in a battle of division leaders with postseason berths and home-field advantage in the playoffs at stake.
"Every game as a football player you want to say, 'It's just another game.' But it's hard to keep it in perspective," said Islanders lineman Taulia Lave. "It's hard to say it's just another game. ... It's a huge game."
Quad City (9-2) comes to town with a nine-game winning streak and is a win away from clinching the National Conference Midwest Division title. The Steamwheelers are also seeking revenge for a season-opening loss to Hawaii at home.
Hawaii (9-3), winner of its last nine games at home, can clinch its first af2 playoff berth with a victory and needs a win to maintain its slim lead in the West Division over second-place Wichita. Should the Islanders lose, they can still back into the postseason if two of a group of three teams -- Memphis, Bakersfield and Peoria -- lose as well.
The winner will also be in position to finish in the top two in the National Conference and earn a bye in the opening round of the playoffs and home-field advantage. Tulsa (10-2) enters the week first in the conference, with Quad City second and Hawaii third.
"This is a top team in the league and this is a way to measure ourselves to see how far we've come in the last two years," Islanders running back/linebacker Josh "Zeus" White said.
Quad City is one of the af2's cornerstone franchises. The Steamwheelers won the first two ArenaCup titles in 2000 and 2001 and enter tonight's game with an all-time record of 56-9. Two of those losses have come against Hawaii.
Hawaii defeated Quad City 56-55 at Blaisdell last year when Lave caught a 2-point conversion pass with six seconds left.
This season, the Islanders became only the third team to win on Quad City's home field when they escaped with a 53-52 victory on April 4. The Steamwheelers had a chance to tie the game with 12 seconds left, but missed an extra-point attempt.
"They're coming in here fired up," White said. "We beat them at home and they're trying to repay the favor."
Hawaii's win at Quad City was the first of four games the Islanders have won by two points or fewer this season.
Two weeks ago, the Islanders overcame a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Peoria 44-43 at home. Last week, they pulled out a 39-38 win at San Diego.
"I've never been more excited because the games are so close," said Islanders coach Cal Lee, who coached in seven one-point games in his 21 years at Saint Louis. "I don't think I've had this many exciting games in my career at the high-school level."
The Islanders' defense has put the team in position to win the close games, but will be tested by the af2's top-rated offense tonight.
Quad City, which had a bye last week, ranks first in total offense with 288 yards per game and is second in scoring with 53.5 points. Steamwheelers quarterback Tony Zimmerman has passed for 3,036 yards and 63 touchdowns and is on pace to break the league's single-season records in both categories.
"They do a lot of three-step drops," said White, the reigning af2 Ironman of the Week. "We need to get them out of their timing and knock him around a little bit."
The Steamwheelers' production will also put pressure on the Hawaii offense to answer with scores of its own.
"Our offense is due for a game where we just come out and just explode," Lave said. "We're 9-3 and a lot of it is because of our defense. Our offense needs to come out and explode and put some points on the board."
Tonight's game represents the last chance for local fans to see the Islanders in person for the next month. Hawaii won't play at Blaisdell again until the regular-season finale against Bakersfield on July 27.
arenafootball2
Who: Quad City Steamwheelers vs. Hawaiian Islanders
When: Today, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Neal Blaisdell Arena
TV: None
Radio: KUMU2 1500-AM
Tickets: Lower Level and loge sold out. Upper level adult $5, children (ages 4-17) $3.50.
Promotion: Fan Appreciation Night. All general admission tickets are half price (must be purchased at the Blaisdell ticket office). The first 1,000 fans receive a free hot dog and soda.
Parking: $3