Riptide End Series with a Loss
July 4, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO â The end of the Islanders-Riptide series had the Islanders coming away with a 40-37 win at the San Diego Sports Arena. The two teams split the series with Hawaii winning two games of the series at the Sports Arena and the Riptide winning two games of the series at Neal Blaisdell Arena.
The Islander's starting line up, which featured a combined three years af2 experience, was led by Quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, who had only thrown two passes this season. Although Withy-Allen had a shaky start, throwing four touchdowns and two interceptions, he was able to overcome the âTide. He completed 20-of-33 passes for 223 yards. Kane Claunch had a tough game completing just 17-of-36 passes and scoring only three touchdowns. This was the first the Claunch did not throw more than five touchdowns since May 15th. The low scoring affair featured no players receiving a hundred yards.
Ryan Cuthbert intercepted a pass and scored the first six after rushing the ball in on the Riptide's first drive of the game, putting the âTide on the board first, but Rich Ehmke missed the PAT. Hawaii answered with seven after Chauncey Ako rushed the ball in for a touchdown and Kimo Naehu successfully kicked the PAT to put Hawaii on top with seven. Claunch connected with Reyes to put the Riptide back on top finishing the first quarter, 13-7. The Riptide scored on every possession in the first quarter.
After a shaky first quarter, Withy-Allen threw his first touchdown of the game to Anthony Arceneaux to start the second quarter. Naehu made the PAT and put the Islanders up by one. Claunch came back to score on a 31-yard pass to Reyes on a fourth down and five, but Withy-Allen answered the âTide's surge, throwing a 30âyard touchdown pass to Gabe Amey on Hawaii's next possession. But Naehu missed the PAT, leaving the teams tied at 20. Hawaii's defense pinned the Riptide deep in their own territory, forcing them to kick on fourth down, but Ryan Smith stopped Hawaii's drive, intercepting a pass in Hawaii's end zone. The Riptide capitalized on the turnover with Ehmke kicking a 46 yard field goal closing out the first half 23-20.
Hawaii's defense continued to play hard, forcing San Diego to kick on fourth down to start the second half. Hawaii scored first in the second half after Withey-Allen running in for a touchdown. After struggling throughout the quarter, the Riptide finally found the end zone after Claunch's fumble was recovered by Reyes in the end zone. Following the score, Takamasa Suzuki and Quincy Lejay stormed down field on the kick off and pinned the Islanders down, forcing them to start their drive from the two yard line and ending the third quarter, 30-27.
The fourth quarter began with Trevor Misipeka forcing and recovering a fumble on the Hawaii 16 yard-line, but the âTide could not capitalize with Ehmke missing the field goal attempt. Hawaii took the lead after Withey-Allen completed a pass for a touchdown finding Arceneax all alone in the corner of the end zone. With less than a minute, Claunch connected with McElrath to put the âTide up 37-34. But Hawaii would not go down, putting the game away when they scored on a 16 yard pass from Withey-Allen to Amey with 20 seconds left in the game. The Riptide had a chance to tie, but Ehmke was unable to make the field goal, leaving thes core at 40-37 in favor of the Islanders.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from July 4, 2004
- Riptide End Series with a Loss - San Diego Riptide
- Dorados ABEL to End Winless Streak - Rio Grande Valley Dorados
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
