[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Islanders close out
af2 regular seasonYearwood's death is
on the minds of Hawaii
and Bakersfield players
With the memory of a departed comrade still fresh on their minds, the Hawaiian Islanders and Bakersfield Blitz will try to find a way to focus on tonight's arenafootball2 game at Blaisdell Arena.
The Blitz arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon, just a week after Bakersfield fullback/linebacker Julian Yearwood collapsed during the first quarter of their game at Wichita. He was later pronounced dead at a Wichita hospital.
arenafootball2
Who: Bakersfield Blitz vs. Hawaiian IslandersWhen: Today, 6 p.m.
Where: Blaisdell Arena
TV: None
Radio: KUMU2 1500-AM
Tickets: Lower Level and loge sold out. Upper level adult $10, children (ages 4-17) $7.
Parking: $3
Promotion: Police Appreciation Night. First 500 fans receive a free hot dog and soda.
The shock of Yearwood's death rippled throughout the league and impacted the Islanders as well.
Hawaii played Bakersfield twice already this season and Islanders receiver/defensive back Darrell Jones said he had known Yearwood for the last six years, having crossed paths with him several times in their arena football journeys.
"Julian was a real good friend," Jones said. "I played with him when we first started off and he played for Louisiana and I played for the (Hawaii) Hurricanes.
"It was real shocking. I still can't believe it, out of all the people in the world. He was real healthy, real athletic."
While Yearwood's memory will be heavy on the minds of players on both teams, they must also concentrate on the final game of the af2 regular season.
"It's hard, but we're all adults here and we have to move on and get ready to play," Jones said.
The Islanders (10-5) clinched the National Conference West Division title and the right to host a first-round playoff game with last week's 34-26 win over San Diego.
Bakersfield (7-7-1) tied Wichita 7-7 last week after their game was called following Yearwood's death.
A Hawaii win tonight would set up a rematch between the Islanders and Blitz at Blaisdell on Friday in the first round of the playoffs. Should Bakersfield prevail tonight, the Islanders would host Wichita on Friday and the Blitz would travel to Arkansas.
Although the Islanders cannot improve their position in the playoffs, maintaining their momentum heading into the postseason is motivation enough for the players.
"The hardest thing to do after a loss is win again," said receiver/defensive back Darrick Branch. "We have to establish that momentum now so that we're ready and we're going to be a force to be dealt with throughout the playoffs."
The Hawaii coaching staff may choose to rest several key players who have been banged up lately. Defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski, last week's af2 defensive player of the week, has been nursing a sore shoulder. Anthony Arceneaux suffered a bruised hip in practice last week and could miss the game.
Nian Taylor, the team's leading receiver, is scheduled to return from a hamstring injury after missing the last three games.
The injuries could mean more playing time for players who haven't seen much playing time, such as defensive back Desmond Maul and receiver Leroy Shelton.
"This whole season has been a struggle," said Shelton, who has played in three games. "It was a choice between going to grad school and staying here and doing what I love to do. I'm glad I stuck it through and I'm glad they're giving me another shot this week."
Prior to last week's tie with Wichita, Bakersfield had been among the conference's hottest teams. After starting 1-6, the Blitz had won six of their previous seven games to climb back into the playoff chase.
Bakersfield receiver Eric Mahanke has 70 receptions for 990 yards and 22 touchdowns. Quarterback Chad Elliott has thrown for 55 scores, including 10 in the Blitz's previous two games against Hawaii.
Elliott threw five touchdown passes in Bakersfield's 58-43 win over the Islanders on April 19. Mahanke had 10 catches for 104 yards and four touchdowns in a 50-48 loss to Hawaii at Blaisdell on May 10.
"They've always played us tough and I think it's going to be even tougher this week," Branch said.
Notes: Bakersfield has set up a memorial fund in Julian Yearwood's honor. Yearwood left behind a 12-year-old son, Julian Jr. The fund will be called The Bakersfield Blitz in care of Julian Yearwood Jr. Memorial Fund. It is asked that donations be sent to the Blitz office, located at 4600 Ashe Road, Bakersfield, CA 93313. ... Quad City clinched the top seed in the National Conference with a victory over Peoria yesterday. Tulsa is the second seed. Should Hawaii win its first-round game, the Islanders would travel to Tulsa for the conference semifinals. ... Tonight's game is Police Appreciation Night. The first 500 fans through the gate get a free hot dog and soda.
arenafootball2 standings
American Conference
x-clinched division title, y-clinched playoff berth
Atlantic Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Cape Fear 10 6 0 .625 W2 Charleston 9 7 0 .563 W3 Greensboro 9 7 0 .563 W5 Norfolk 8 8 0 .500 L2 Richmond 6 10 0 .375 L2 Northeast Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Albany 13 3 0 .813 W2 y-Mohegan 10 6 0 .625 L1 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6 9 0 .400 L1 Rochester 2 13 0 .143 L2 South Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Tennessee Valley 14 2 0 .875 L2 y-Florida 10 6 0 .625 W2 y-Macon 10 6 0 .625 W2 Birmingham 7 9 0 .438 L3 Columbus 4 12 0 .250 L2 National Conference Central Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Tulsa 13 3 0 .812 W3 y-Arkansas 9 7 0 .563 W1 Memphis 6 10 0 .375 L1 Bossier City 3 13 0 .200 L8 Midwest Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Quad City 14 2 0 .875 W14 Cincinnati 7 9 0 .438 W1 Peoria 5 11 0 .313 L1 Louisville 5 11 0 .333 L1 Green Bay 2 14 0 .125 L4 West Division W L T Pct. Str. x-Hawaii 10 5 0 .667 W1 y-Wichita 8 7 1 .533 L3 y-Bakersfield 7 7 1 .500 W1 San Diego 6 10 0 .375 W1 This week's games
Friday
San Diego 31, Green Bay 28
Tulsa 66, Bossier City 36
Yesterday
Florida 48, Columbus 44
Greensboro 67, Norfolk 65
Mohegan 51, Albany 54
Cape Fear 55, Memphis 33
Charleston 43, Richmond 13
Macon 51, Tennessee Valley 42
Quad City 65, Peoria 42
Arkansas 41, Birmingham 32
Cincinnati 61, Wichita 59
Today
Bakersfield at Hawaii, 6 p.m.Hawaiian Islanders season results
March 30 Green Bay W 48-37 April 4 at Quad City W 53-52 April 19 at Bakersfield L 43-58 April 26 San Diego W 51-43 May 3 at Wichita L 29-36 May 10 Bakersfield W 50-48 May 16 Wichita W 61-55 May 24 at Cincinnati W 35-28 May 31 Louisville W 67-48 June 7 at Arkansas L 39-58 June 14 Peoria W 44-43 June 20 at San Diego W 39-38 June 28 Quad City L 36-54 July 12 at Tulsa L 47-48 July 18 at San Diego W 43-26 July 27 Bakersfield
