Playoff spot in hand,
Islanders want more
Although the Hawaiian Islanders know they have a postseason berth waiting for them at the end of the season, they aren't ready to relax just yet.
With three games left in the regular season, the Islanders enter Saturday's game at Tulsa fighting for a higher seed in the arenafootball2 playoffs and possibly a first-round bye.
"It feels real good, but we have to get past these three games," said Hawaii lineman Andy Ramos. "We're not looking to the playoffs yet, we just want to try to get a higher seeding in the standings and get that first playoff game at home."
The Islanders are 9-4 and lead the National Conference West Division by a game over Wichita. But if the playoffs started this week, they would be the third seed in the conference. A win over Tulsa (10-3) would vault them into second place and put them in position to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the second round.
A Hawaii win coupled with an Arkansas loss this week would also assure the Islanders of hosting at least one playoff game.
But for now, just having a playoff berth already wrapped up is a relief for those who endured last year's 5-11 season.
"To have that berth is wonderful, especially in our second year in existence," said Ramos, the only Islander to play in each of the franchise's 29 games. "I feel real good about it, to be a part of it.
"Everybody knew what we had to go through. We had to just work hard and pay the price to get to where we are right now."
Quarterback Darnell Arceneaux had played in 24 consecutive games before injuring his hand earlier this season and can also appreciate the Islanders' swift ascent.
"It's just a good example of dedication," Arceneaux said. "(The players) sacrifice so much from their families ... they put so much on the line it's amazing.
"It says a lot about Coach (Cal) Lee and his ability to motivate people and make it work."
Back in the fold: It took a while, but Arceneaux and receiver Darrick Branch are back.
Arceneaux and Branch were stuck in Pago Pago, American Samoa, last week when Hawaiian Airlines suspended service to the island's airport. They traveled to Samoa to conduct football clinics sponsored by Hawaii Sports Network.
They returned home the night of July 4 after an arduous journey. They traveled from American Samoa to Western Samoa to catch a flight to Fiji. A 10-hour layover in Fiji was followed by a 10-hour flight to Los Angeles. After another five-hour wait, they finally boarded a flight bound for Honolulu.
"It was tough, but we just made the best of it," Arceneaux said. "We had to get back, so it came out of our own pockets for some things. We're seeing what we can do to see if Hawaiian is going to reimburse us. But at least we're back, we could still be there."
Arceneaux could also be back on the field Saturday after missing the Islanders' last five games with a broken bone in his throwing hand. He is eligible to come off the long-term injured reserve list this week.
In his absence, Mike Tillis has passed for 1,087 yards and 22 touchdowns. Arceneaux said he and Tillis might split time this week.
Injury update: Nian Taylor, the Islanders' leading scorer, was placed on the short-term injured reserve list last week and will miss Saturday's game. Taylor injured his left hamstring early in the Islanders' 54-36 loss to Quad City on June 28.
Taylor has caught 64 passes for 993 yards and scored 27 touchdowns this season.
Fullback/linebacker Vai Notoa came off the injured reserve list last week and is eligible to return to action against Tulsa. He sat out the Quad City game with a broken thumb.
Short week: After Saturday's game, the Islanders will have a few days at home before embarking on their final road trip of the regular season.
The team returns home Sunday and will have three practices before leaving for San Diego for the second time in the past month. The Islanders will try to sweep the three-game season series with the Riptide on July 18.
They close the regular season July 27 with a home game against Bakersfield. The af2 playoffs open the weekend of Aug. 1-3.