[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Islanders succumb
to early deficit
BOSSIER CITY, La. » Less than two weeks after rallying past the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings, the Hawaiian Islanders couldn't manage a repeat of their comeback and lost the rematch between the teams 61-42 yesterday at the CenturyTel Center.
The Islanders trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before cutting the deficit to three in the third quarter. But the Battle Wings scored 18 unanswered points to pull away.
"Somehow we just can't get going early and we've been playing catch-up ball a lot," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "We just can't seem to get going. Outside of our first game (of the season), when everything was working, we haven't been able to get going until we're behind. Sometimes when you do that too often, you can't (come back) every time. We sure didn't do it tonight."
The Battle Wings (2-3) ended a three-game losing streak with the win and earned a split of the season series by avenging their 63-60 loss at Blaisdell Arena on April 17. They led by 12 points in the second half of the first meeting before the Islanders rallied for the win.
Bossier-Shreveport quarterback Sherard Poteete passed for three touchdowns and ran for two scores in yesterday's meeting. Islanders quarterback Darnell Arceneaux passed for 219 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
The Islanders (3-2) racked up 226 yards in total offense to Bossier-Shreveport's 175. But the statistic proved deceptive as five of the Battle Wings scoring drives started in Islanders territory.
Bossier-Shreveport opened a 30-13 lead in the first half before the Islanders closed to 37-34 in the third quarter. But one of the Islanders' few defensive stops resulted into a momentum-turning score for the Battle Wings.
With the Islanders trailing 40-34 entering the fourth quarter, defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski intercepted a Poteete pass near midfield. But the ball came loose before Klaneski was ruled down and Shadrick McAfee scooped it up and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.
"We had our opportunities and didn't cash in on them," Lee said. "I thought we had a chance to get back into it and we couldn't convert."
The Islanders gave the ball up on downs on their next possession and Poteete found Bo Smith for a 15-yard touchdown connection to give the Battle Wings command of the game.
The Islanders were without defensive/special teams coordinator Doug Semones, who was suspended for his role in a scuffle in the first meeting between the teams.
The Islanders go back on the road next week and play at San Diego on May 8.
"We just have to regroup," Lee said. "It's a long season. We need to get some juice flowing and be ready to go. We've got a game next week and no time to rest."
Battle Wings 61, Islanders 42
At CenturyTel Center
Hawaiian Islanders (3-2) 6 13 15 8 -- 42 Bossier-Shreveport (2-3) 16 14 18 13 -- 61 BS--Francisco Kelly 21 pass from Sherard Poteete (kick failed)
BS--FG Jason Ball 45
HI--Anthony Arceneaux 5 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (kick failed)
BS--Poteete 4 run (Ball kick)
BS--Joe Webber 1 run (Ball kick)
HI--Keiki Misipeka 2 run (Kimo Naehu kick)
BS--Poteete 4 run (Ball kick)
HI--A. Arceneaux 22 pass from D. Arceneaux (run failed)
HI--Mike Miller 8 pass from D. Arceneaux (D. Arceneaux run)
BS--Bo Smith 6 pass from Poteete (Ball kick)
HI--D. Arceneaux 6 run (Naehu kick)
BS--FG Ball 26
BS--Shadrick McAfee 26 fumble return (Kelly pass from Poteete)
BS--Smith 16 pass from Poteete (Ball kick)
HI--Nian Taylor 31 pass from D. Arceneaux (Taylor pass from D. Arceneaux)
BS--Webber 5 run (pass failed)RUSHING--Islanders: D. Arceneaux 3-5, Misipeka 1-2. Battle Wings: Poteete 7-30, Webber 2-6, Larry Holloway 2-5.
PASSING--Islanders: D. Arceneaux 19-39-0-219. Battle Wings: Poteete 15-24-2-134.
RECEIVING--Islanders: Aaron Smith 9-75, Taylor 3-61, A. Arceneaux 3-45, Miller 3-36. Battle Wings: Smith 6-60, Kelly 4-37, Derrick Wallace 4-31, Jermaine Toney 1-6.