[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
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Islanders look
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Had the Hawaiian Islanders won last week, their game with the Bakersfield Blitz today would have been for the arenafootball2 West Division title. But a stunning loss to Central Valley relegated the Islanders to spoiler status for their regular-season finale.
"Right now we could be playing for the championship, to repeat as Western Division champions and guarantee a playoff berth," Islanders quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen said. "But that's the way it goes, that's why you play the game."
The Islanders will try to pick up their first win at Bakersfield in franchise history today. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m Hawaii time.
The Islanders enter the game with a remote chance to qualify for one of the National Conference's three wild-card berths to the af2 playoffs. The Islanders' flickering playoff hopes survived another day when Central Valley knocked off San Diego 48-34 last night, eliminating the Riptide from the race.
The Islanders still need a win today combined with the right set of results involving three other games in order to qualify.
Although the Islanders aren't holding their breaths for a playoff berth, they are looking to follow the lead of a Central Valley team that was 1-13 before knocking off the Islanders and the Riptide to close its season.
"Just in the competitive nature of it, you want to see what we have to improve so we can win this week," Withy-Allen said. "(The Coyotes) were 1-13 and they played their hearts out, and we're going to play our hearts out."
Bakersfield lost to San Diego last week, but clinched the West Division crown thanks to the Islanders' loss. The Blitz are in the running for the second seed in the National Conference and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Islanders will be without two of their top offensive weapons today. Anthony Arceneaux, who leads the team with 1,026 receiving yards and 32 total touchdowns, had been slowed by an Achilles injury and did not make the trip. Gabe Amey had 10 catches for 172 yards last week but was left off the traveling roster after aggravating a hip flexor injury during practice this week.
The injuries leave Nian Taylor (66 receptions, 993 yards) as the Islanders' primary option on offense.
Teruhiro Ura is slated to get his first career start at offensive specialist. Ura, who attended Nittaidai University in Japan, was activated off the Islanders' international training squad last week and did not have a reception against Central Valley. Johnny Wayfer was also activated and will play in his third game of the season.
"These guys have been practicing since February and it's a great feeling for them to be putting on the uniform and playing for the Islanders," head coach Cal Lee said.
The line also took a hit as Joe Correia, Andy Ramos and James Davis were placed on injured reserve. Davis was one of just three Islanders who had played in all 15 games entering the final week of the season. Linemen Tiki Sagapolutele and Evile Puna were activated for the game.
"When we went to San Diego (on July 3) we were undermanned, but we played hard and won," Lee said. "You never know."