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Hawaiian Islanders Game Notes

June 23, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Hawaiian Islanders News Release


QUICK FACTS:
HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (9-3) vs. QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (9-2)
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. HST (12:30 a.m. CDT)
Site: Neal Blaisdell Arena (capacity: 6,443)
Officials: Frank White (Referee), Phil Akana (Umpire), George Gusman (Head Linesman), Matt Sumstine (Linesman), Mike Goshima (Back Judge)
Radio: Live on KUMU2 AM 1500 (John Miro, Scott Kaalele)
Internet: Live on www.hawaiianislanders.com
Series Record: Hawaii leads series 2-1
Streaks: Hawaii: Won 2; Quad City: Won 9
Coaches: Islanders – Cal Lee (9-3, first season) Steamwheelers – Rich Ingold (19-8, second season)

TICKET INFORMATION:

Walk Up Sales: Neal Blaisdell Arena, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On game day, the Box Office will open through halftime. Ticketmaster Outlets including: UH Manoa Campus Center, MWR Naval Base Kunia, Brigham Young University Hawaii Campus, and selected Foodland/Sack N Save locations during their normal business hours.

Phone Sales: Ticketmaster (808) 526-4400.
Internet Sales: www.ticketmaster.com

Ticket Prices: (Lower level and Loge are sold out)
• $10 Upper level adult
• $7 Upper level Children (Age 4-17)
(Convenience fees apply at all outlets)

Discounted Tickets: Receive a 15 percent discount on up to four general admission tickets when you show your Kupa'a Card at the Neal Blaisdell Center Box Office. (One Kupa`a Card per household) Ohana Hotels & Resorts offers a $2 discount per ticket for Ohana/Outrigger employees with company identification. (Valid at the Blaisdell Box Office only.)

FAN APPRECIATION DAY:

• 50 percent all general admission tickets (adult $5; students $3.50) at the Neal Blaisdell Box Office only
• Free hot dog and soda for the first 1,000 fans through the gate
• 20 percent off all Hawaiian Islanders merchandise
• Islander fan t-shirts for just $5
• More prizes and giveaways

THE STAKES: It is a battle for playoff positions as the Midwest division leading Quad City Steamwheelers face the Western division leading Hawaiian Islanders in a critical inter-conference game.

This is the second meeting of the year between these teams. Hawaii is a perfect 6-0 at home while Quad City is 4-1 on the road.

THE SERIES: This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams with Hawaii leading 2-1. In Honolulu, the Islanders lead the series 1-0.

THE IFs:

If the Islanders defeat the Riptide, it would ...
• Give the ISLANDERS a 3-1 record with Quad City
• Give the ISLANDERS an all time record of 11-4 at home.
• Give the ISLANDERS an all time record of 5-4 record in the month of June.
• Give Hawaii Head Coach Cal Lee a 10-3 record
• Give Hawaii a seven game home winning streak this year and 10 in a row dating back to last season.

HEAD COACHES: Cal Lee was named head coach of the Hawaiian Islanders on October 23, 2002 giving fans across Hawaii an added excitement for the upcoming season. Lee is the most prolific football coach in Hawaii high school history. In 21 years as a head coach at St. Louis High School (Honolulu), his teams have compiled a 241-32-5 record, which include 18 league titles and 15 state championships.

Rich Ingold is in his second year at Quad City and owns a 19-8 record. Ingold is an Arena Football veteran, playing for the Washington Commando in the league's inaugural season in 1987 and quarterbacking the Detroit Fire to the AFL championship in 1988.

COACHES LUNCHEON AT BIG ISLAND STEAKHOUSE

Each Monday, join host Alema Harrington for The Coaches Luncheon at Big Island Steak House. Islander coaches and players gather for a roundtable discussion as they review and preview the 2003 opponents. See highlights from last week's game as well a chance to meet your favorite player.

The luncheon runs from noon to 1 p.m. at the Aloha Tower Marketplace.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Head Coach Cal Lee on Quad City: "I know the fans are looking forward to this game and we have to do a good job of playing well at home. All we want is to put us in position to win by not making mistakes on the field."

ISLANDERS' WEEKLY:

Join host Alema Harrington for Islanders Weekly, an informative 30-minute look behind the scenes at the Hawaiian Islanders, the only professional franchise in the state. See highlights from last week's game as well as a preview of upcoming opponents. You'll also see interesting interviews with coaches, players and items that make the Islanders your only team in town.

The show airs Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable 16.

KEY DATES IN TEAM HISTORY:

September 6, 2001 – The league offices of arenafootball2 announces Honolulu will be awarded a franchise for the 2002 season. Charles Wang and his daughter Kimberly will be the operators of the team. Hawaii becomes the ninth (of 10) expansion team named for the 2002 season.

January 7, 2002 – Former all-state quarterback Darnell Arceneaux is assigned to the Islanders making him the first player in team history.

January 19, 2002 - The Hawaiian Islanders hosts an open tryout at Central Oahu Regional Park. Over 30 players endured the soggy conditions and participated in the three-hour workout

February 4, 2002 – Islanders host Pacific Rim Training Camp where over 180 participants from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji attended.

March 30, 2002 - Islanders defeat the Fresno Frenzy 50-47 before 4,376 fans at the Blaisdell Arena marking the first game, the first win and the first home win in team history.

June 14, 2002 – After suffering through a nine game losing streak, the Islanders defeat San Diego 53-34 as Darnell Arceneaux threw for three touchdowns and rushed for three more.

June 22, 2002 – Despite losing 56-48 at Bakersfield, quarterback Darnell Arceneaux rushes for an af2 record-tying five touchdowns.

July 20, 2002 – Hawaii rallies from a 21-0 deficit to upset the two-time defending af2 champion Quad City Steamwheelers 56-55 before 5,185 fans. Two days later, Nian Taylor was named National Ironman for the second consecutive week. Combined with his National Built Ford Tough award three weeks earlier, he becomes the first player to win three national awards in a four-week period.

July 27, 2002 – The Islanders defeat Fresno 46-36 for their first road win of the season. It was Hawaii's first two game winning streak and four wins in their final six games.

October 23, 2002 – The Islanders announce that Cal Lee will become their new coach for the 2003 season.

March 12, 2003 – Training camp opens with 16 veterans making the 35-man squad. Islanders announced they sold nearly 1,200 season tickets compared to only 16 from last year.

March 30, 2003 – Exactly one year following the Islanders' first season and first win against Fresno, Hawaii opens the 2003 with a 48-37 win over Green Bay and gives head coach Cal Lee is first win as an af2 coach.

FORWARD MOTION: The Islanders go on a bye in week 15 then travel to meet the Central Division leading Tulsa Talons on Saturday, July 12 in week 16.

LAST SERIES MEETING: HAWAII 53, QUAD CITY 52

(Saturday, April 4, 2003 – The MARK of the Quad Cities, Moline, Illinois) – In what is considered as the finest win in the short existence of the Hawaiian Islanders, the team from the 50th state stunned the Quad City Steamwheelers 53-52 before 6,141 fans at the MARK of the Quad Cities.

Darnell Arceneaux hit Darrell Jones with an 8-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion to Nian Taylor with 55-seconds left in the fourth quarter for the winning score, but it took a missed extra point by Quad City's Brian Hegnauer with 12-seconds left to give the Islanders a one point win.

Taylor was Hawaii's leading receiver catching five passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to his winning two-point conversion catch, he also registered 4.5 tackles and a kickoff return for 19 yards as he was named both the MVP and the Ironman of the game. Defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski led Hawaii in tackles with four solo and two assists and two pass breakups was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

"We talked about traveling and how tough it is to win on the road," Lee said. "Basically you just got to be ready to play no matter where you go. It's not a given when you take a trip, you are going to lose. You have to go out there to win and the players believed in themselves, the coaches believed in the players and we just believed that we could do it and as it turned out, we were just very fortunate that we came out victorious."

Although none of the post-game awards were given to Darnell Arceneaux, the 6-2 quarterback had another outstanding game with 196 yards passing and two touchdowns while rushing for 22 yards. He did not commit an interception and threw to seven different receivers in the game.

DROPBACK: HAWAII 39, SAN DIEGO 38

(Saturday, June 21, 2003, SD Sports Arena, San Diego, Calif.) – SAN DIEGO - Anthony Arceneaux's 9-yard pass from Mike Tillis with 45-seconds left lifted the Hawaiian Islanders to a 39-38 win over the San Diego Riptide Saturday night before 5,134 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena.

The Riptide had a chance to win the game on the last play of the game but a 33-yard field goal by Ryan Geisler sailed left as Hawaii won their second straight and their sixth in the last seven games. San Diego, who lost last week to Wichita on a similar missed field goal on the last play from scrimmage, falls to 4-8 and have lost five in a row.

"We were very fortunate to win this one," said Islander head coach Cal Lee. "Both teams gave great effort out there and thanks to our defense and Zeus who played an outstanding game."

Josh "Zeus" White became the first Islander to be named to all three awards selected by the media (Game MVP, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Game). White led Hawaii with 9 carries for 52 yards and three touchdowns while on defense picked up six solo tackles, two quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles.

Quarterback Mike Tillis completed 14-of-26 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns and ran his record to 3-1 as Hawaii's starting quarterback. Nian Taylor was Hawaii's leading receiver with five catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns There were 11 lead changes throughout the game and no team had more than a six-point lead.

San Diego quarterback Kane Claunch completed 27-of-38 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns however, the Hawaii defense forced the Riptide to convert four field goals.

OH THOSE CLOSE GAMES: In games that are decided by two points or less, the Hawaiian Islanders are 5-1. Here are the games which ended with a two point margin or less.

Margin Score Date
1 Hawaii 39, San Diego 38 6/21/03
1 Hawaii 53, Quad City 52 4/04/03
1 Hawaii 44, Peoria 43 6/14/03
1 Hawaii 56, Quqd City 55 7/20/02
2 Hawaii 50, Bakersfield 48 5/10/03
2 San Diego 52, Hawaii 50 5/11/02

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

A FIRST FOR JOSH WHITE AND THE ISLANDERS: Fullback/Linebacker Josh "Zeus" White became the first Islander in franchise history to win the game's MVP, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

Against San Diego, White rushed nine times for 52 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, he recorded six solo tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a quarterback hurry.

"He gave us that running game to keep them off-balanced a little bit," said Hawaii Head Coach Cal Lee. "On defense, he put great pressure on the quarterback."

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