[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Lee calls Arceneaux’s
number in overtime
SAN DIEGO, Calif. » A few new faces energized a wounded Hawaiian Islanders squad in yesterday's arenafootball2 game against the San Diego Riptide, but it was the team's founding member who carried it to a victory in the first overtime game in franchise history.
Darnell Arceneaux's dive for the goal line on a 2-point conversion in overtime sent the Islanders to a 55-54 victory over the Riptide in a West Division shootout at the San Diego Sports Arena.
"I've seen him do it a thousand times," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "He ad-libbed and took it in. Things were kind of sewn up in the end zone, so he did his thing."
Arceneaux, the first player to sign with the Islanders when the team was formed in 2002, threw for six touchdowns as the Islanders improved to 4-2 and moved a half-game ahead of idle Bakersfield (3-2) atop the division standings.
San Diego, coached by former Islanders consultant Darrel "Mouse" Davis, dropped to 1-4.
Arceneaux completed 21 of 38 passes for 282 yards to earn offensive player of the game honors. San Diego's Kane Claunch nearly matched him with 263 yards and five scores.
Twelve of the game's first 13 possessions resulted in touchdowns and the score was tied at 47 after regulation.
Claunch tossed his fifth touchdown pass of the night on the first play from scrimmage in overtime and the Riptide took a 54-47 lead.
The Islanders responded with a five-play drive capped by Arceneaux's 21-yard scoring pass to Channon Harris. Rather than attempt to tie the game by kicking the extra point, the Islanders elected to go for two and Arceneaux reached the goal line on his scramble to end the game.
"We never went for two the whole game and there was no better time to do than then," Lee said.
"You just have a feeling about it. The staff felt that we'd go for it and put it right there on the line."
With several starters out with injuries, newcomers Nate Jackson and Craig Stutzmann combined for eight catches and 105 yards. Jackson was in on four tackles on defense.
Desmond Maul stepped into the lineup in place of Eddie Klaneski and was named the defensive player of the game after making a game-high seven tackles. Joshua Robinson had five tackles and came up with an interception late in regulation.
Harris, playing in just his second game of the season, caught his first TD pass with less than four minutes left in regulation to tie the game and hauled in his second in overtime to set up Arceneaux's winning run.
Veteran Nian Taylor helped the Islanders keep pace with an efficient Riptide offense by snagging three touchdown passes.
"They played for the guys who were hurt," Lee said. "They didn't want to let them down. The kids just believed in themselves and didn't give up."
Former University of Hawaii receiver Dwight Carter led San Diego with seven catches for 78 yards and three scores.
The Islanders gave up touchdowns on San Diego's first seven possessions and never led in regulation. They trailed 47-40 when they made their first defensive stop of the game with 4:08 left in the fourth quarter.
After giving the ball away on downs at their own 11 late in the period, the Islanders forced three incomplete passes and Kevin Burton missed on a 26-yard field goal.
"You just had a feel that your defense would make a stop one time in this game and they did and it's a huge lift," Lee said.
Arceneaux hit Harris for a 26-yard touchdown on the next play and Kimo Naehu's extra point tied the game with 3:22 left.
An interception by Joshua Robinson gave the Islanders the ball with 53.6 seconds left to set up a 45-yard field-goal attempt by Naehu to win the game at the end of regulation. His kick was wide, sending the game into overtime.
The Islanders have a bye this week and return to action at home against the Central Valley Coyotes on May 22.
"We're going to get some rest and recoup," Lee said. "We haven't even hit the halfway point yet. There's still a lot of football to be played."
Islanders 55, Riptide 54 (OT)
At San Diego Sports Arena
Islanders (4-2) 13 14 13 7 8 -- 55 Riptide (1-4) 14 20 7 6 7 -- 54 SD--Marty Graham 6 pass from Kane Claunch (Kevin Burton kick)
HI--Vai Notoa 2 run (kick failed)
SD--Claunch 2 run (Burton kick)
HI--Nian Taylor 6 pass from Darnell Arceneaux (Kimo Naehu kick)
SD--Dwight Carter 19 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI--Taylor 30 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD--Jesus Reyes 12 pass from Claunch (kick failed)
HI--Randyn Akiona 26 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD--Ryan Cuthbert 1 run (Burton kick)
HI--Keiki Misipeka 2 run (kick failed)
SD--Carter 9 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI--Taylor 5 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD--Matt Guardia 3 run (kick failed)
HI--Channon Harris 25 pass from Arceneaux (Naehu kick)
SD--Carter 20 pass from Claunch (Burton kick)
HI--Harris 21 pass from Arceneaux (Arceneaux run)
RUSHING--Islanders: Misipeka 3-9, Akiona 1-5, Notoa 2-4. Riptide: Guardia 3-11, Cuthbert 5-10, Claunch 2-6.
PASSING--Islanders: Arceneaux 21-38-0-282. Riptide: Claunch 21-34-1-263, Team 0-0-0-(-2).
RECEIVING--Islanders: Nate Jackson 6-86, Akiona 5-56, Harris 4-64, Taylor 4-57, Craig Stutzmann 2-19. Riptide: Carter 7-78, Nakoa McElrath 5-94, Graham 4-36, Rico Curtis 3-28, Ashley Burrows 1-15, Jesus Reyes 1-12.