Waianae alumnus Kika Kaululaau of the Bakersfield Blitz brought down Islanders quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen.
Blitz throw Islanders
for a loss
The Hawaiian Islanders gave the ball away five times and saw a chance to tie for the division lead slip away with a 43-41 loss to the Bakersfield Blitz in last night's arenafootball2 game at Blaisdell Arena.
The Islanders gained 351 yards to Bakersfield's 221, but Bakersfield turned the turnovers into 17 points and held off a late rally to hand the Islanders their second straight home loss.
"We played great defense all night," Bakersfield coach Rick Van Horne said. "The guys up front, the secondary, they all played their 'A' game tonight and kind of saved us. Our offense sputtered, but scored enough to get it done."
The Blitz (9-4) moved two games ahead of the Islanders (7-6) in the West Division with three games left in the regular season.
The Islanders will need help from Central Valley or San Diego over the next two weeks to have a shot at catching Bakersfield. The Blitz can clinch at least a tie for the crown with their next win.
Bakersfield also leads the season series 2-1. The Islanders will have a chance to split the series when they travel to Bakersfield to close the regular season on July 31.
Bakersfield quarterback Chad Elliott was named the offensive player of the game after passing for 218 yards and a touchdown and rushing for two more. Eric Mahanke had three receptions for 95 yards and a score to claim Ironman of the Game honors.
Defensive specialist Kenny Haslip had two of Bakersfield's three interceptions and was the defensive player of the game.
Islanders quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, making his second career start, was under pressure much of the night and had three tipped passes fall into the hands of Bakersfield defenders. He was also sacked twice for a total loss of 15 yards.
"That's a quarterback's worst nightmare, when he gets interceptions like that," Withy-Allen said. "I have to watch film. I might have been in the wrong place in the pocket, I might have taken too long to get the ball out, whatever, it is still my fault. The defense is playing hard and we have to score touchdowns."
Withy-Allen completed 22 of 35 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns. Nian Taylor had his best game of the season with 11 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
"I thought Shawn played well," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "I give him a lot of credit the way he hung in there the whole game long."
Halakilangi Muagututia led the Islanders defense with two interceptions.
The Islanders scored first when a missed field-goal attempt resulted in their first safety of the season. Kimo Naehu's kick hit the right goal post and Mel Miller recovered the loose ball. He brought the ball out of the end zone but backtracked and was tackled by Vai Notoa for the safety.
Bakersfield ran just seven offensive plays in the first quarter and gained no yards.
Neither team reached the end zone until Withy-Allen went around the left side for a 3-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
The Blitz later took a 27-23 lead when Elliott found Mahanke running alone across the field for a 27-yard touchdown pass with one minute left in the half.
Bakersfield took control by scoring the first 10 points of the second half.
The Islanders responded with a 45-yard touchdown strike from Withy-Allen to Taylor. They closed the gap to 37-34 with a 2-point conversion as backup quarterback Darnell Arceneaux scrambled to his right and found Morrie Roe alone in the left corner of the end zone.
The Blitz stretched the lead to 43-34 early in the fourth quarter and Arceneaux entered the contest with nine minutes left after Withy-Allen's third interception. But on his second play he went down with a sprained right knee and had to be helped off the field. His status will be evaluated tomorrow.
The Islanders eventually drove to the Bakersfield 1, but the Blitz dropped Withy-Allen for a 2-yard loss on fourth down.
With 31.2 seconds left, the Islanders cut the Bakersfield lead to 43-41 on Taylor's second TD reception. The Blitz recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Blitz 43, Islanders 41
At Blaisdell Arena
Bakersfield Blitz (9-4) 6 21 10 6 -- 43 Islanders (7-6) 2 24 8 7 -- 41 HI--Safety, Mel Miller tackled in end zone
BB--FG Brian Walker 19
BB--FG Walker 21
HI--Shawn Withy-Allen 3 run (Kimo Naeku kick)
BB--Nathan Munson 2 run (Walker kick)
HI--Randyn Akiona 36 pass from Withy-Allen (Naehu kick)
BB--Ben McCombs 4 run (Walker kick)
HI--Gabe Amey 18 pass from Withy-Allen (Naehu kick)
BB--Eric Mahanke 27 pass from Chad Elliott (Walker kick)
HI--FG Naehu 21
BB--FG Walker 35
BB--Elliott 7 run (Walker kick)
HI--Nian Taylor 45 pass from Withy-Allen (Morrie Roe pass from Darnell Arceneaux)
BB--Elliott 4 run (run failed)
HI--Taylor pass from Withy-Allen (Naehu kick)
RUSHING--Blitz: McCombs 3-5, Nick Onaindia 3-2, Elliott 5-6, Munson 1-2, Rennard Reynolds 1-(-1). Islanders: Withy-Allen 5-6, Vai Notoa 2-5.
PASSING--Blitz: Elliott 15-22-2-218, Team 0-0-0-(-11). Islanders: Withy-Allen 22-35-3-335, D. Arceneaux 1-2-0-20, Team 0-0-0-(-15).
RECEIVING--Blitz: Mahanke 3-95, Munson 6-42, Reynolds 3-58, Steve Wofford 2-24, Onaindia 1-(-1). Islanders: Taylor 11-183, Amey 5-72, Anthony Arceneaux 3-27, Akiona 3-72, Joe Correia 1-1.
Att: 3,319
Hawaiian Islanders
www.hawaiianislanders.com
