Islanders hoping
to host af2 playoffThe team has gotten help in
the standings and now controls
its own postseason fate
Fortune has simultaneously tormented and blessed the Hawaiian Islanders over the past few weeks.
arenafootball2
Who: Hawaiian Islanders at San Diego Riptide
When: Tomorrow, 4:30 p.m.
Where: San Diego Sports Arena
TV: None
Radio: KUMU2 1500-AM
While the Islanders twice squandered double-digit leads in the fourth quarter to lose back-to-back games for the first time in the arenafootball2 season, they remain in first place in the National Conference West Division thanks to help from other teams.
But with two games left in the regular season and a chance to host a playoff game at stake, the Islanders are looking to take control of their fate when they face the San Diego Riptide tomorrow.
"We're fortunate in the sense that even with the losses we're still leading the division, but one of these games we've got to help ourselves out and start taking care of business on our own," Islanders coach Cal Lee said.
"You can't depend too much on other people. ... It all depends on us, no one else, and that's the way it should be."
The Islanders (9-5) will attempt to maintain their grip on the top spot in the division when they go for a season sweep of the Riptide (5-9) tomorrow at the San Diego Sports Arena. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time.
The road trip is the Islanders' third in the last five weeks and their second to San Diego in that span. They defeated San Diego 51-43 on April 26 in Honolulu and escaped with 39-38 win in their visit to San Diego on June 21 when a Riptide field-goal attempt sailed wide left as time expired.
"Travel-wise we know what to expect -- we're going through the same routine that we did last time," Islanders defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski said. "So in that sense the travel is going to be easier. But on the other side, we still have to travel, we still have to go over the Pacific Ocean and play in someone else's arena."
The outcome will depend largely on how the Islanders recover from a heartbreaking 48-47 loss at Tulsa last week.
The Islanders held a 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but gave up two late scores to the Talons to drop their second straight game. In their previous outing, the Islanders lost to Quad City after leading late in the game.
"To be dominating (Tulsa) the whole game and let it slip away in the last minute, it's just a sad feeling," Klaneski said. "We got over it quick, but it still hurts inside and we want to make sure we get back on that winning track. A win always takes that sour taste out of your mouth."
Despite the loss, the Islanders remain in control of their destiny in the division race. A win coupled with a Bakersfield victory over second-place Wichita will give the Islanders the division title and the third seed in the National Conference heading into the playoffs.
Quad City and Tulsa have wrapped up the conference's top two berths. If the Islanders can finish third or fourth in the conference, they will host a first-round playoff game on Aug. 1 at Blaisdell Arena.
A loss means the Islanders could slide as low as sixth in the conference and would have to travel for their opening round game.
Hawaii should be back to full strength tomorrow as Lee anticipates having leading receiver Nian Taylor back on the field. Taylor sat out last week's game with a hamstring injury and is eligible to come off the injured reserve list in time for the game.
Taylor, who leads the team with 28 touchdowns, said the hamstring is still bothering him, but he's planning to play through the pain.
"I'm just going to fight through it," Taylor said. "I have to make up for those two games that I missed and keep us in the playoff race."
With Taylor out, veteran receiver Darrick Branch turned in his best performance of the season with five catches for 95 yards against Tulsa. He also caught two of Darnell Arceneaux's five touchdown passes.
"With Nian and Darrick out there, that gives us two big targets," Lee said.
The Islanders are also looking to bolster the offensive and defensive lines with the addition of 6-foot-7, 320-pound Paul Breed. Breed began the season with Bakersfield, but was recently released by the Blitz. The Islanders picked him up and Lee said he may be on the traveling roster for this week's trip.
The Islanders will face a San Diego team that suffered through a 69-36 loss to Quad City last week, eliminating the Riptide from the playoff picture.
San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch completed 27 of 38 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns in the Riptide's last meeting with the Islanders. Former University of Hawaii standout Dwight Carter leads the Riptide in receptions with 38 catches.
