Riptide Win Fourth Straight, 64-59

June 20, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release


HONOLULU, Hawaii – Dwight Carter hauled in four touchdown receptions and Rico Curtis recovered a fumble in the end zone to help the Riptide edge the Hawaiian Islanders, 64-59, for their forth consecutive win Saturday night at Neal Blaisdell Arena.

San Diego scored on 10 of its 13 drives, including nine touchdowns, picking up right where they left off after its 91-point performance the last the two teams met. Quarterback Kane Claunch came up with another stellar game, completing 18-of-26 passes for 274 yards and six touchdowns, but was nearly out-dueled by the Islanders field general, Darnell Arceneaux. Arceneaux passed for a team record seven touchdowns and added an eighth on the ground, but the defensive score by Curtis and kick return for a touchdown by Jesus Reyes helped the Riptide outlast Hawaii.

Carter keyed the Riptide offense, grabbing eight balls for 144 yards and four touchdowns, his season high. Marty Graham returned from an injury to catch five balls, including a touchdown, and Brad Greetis added a 33-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to round out the offensive attack. The four-game winning streak brings the Riptide (5-5) to the .500 mark for the first time all season. Hawaii (6-5), losers of three of its last four, is now just one-half game ahead of San Diego for second place in the National West Division. Bakersfield, who defeated Central Valley earlier in the evening, remains in first place, one-and-a-half games ahead of the ‘Tide.

The game started off well for San Diego, as Claunch hooked up with Carter on a 45-yard pitch-and-catch for a score on their first offensive play. Hawaii responded with a 32-yard touchdown catch by Nian Taylor, who finished the game with 143 yards and four scores. Claunch went right back to Carter on the next Riptide drive, this time on a 15-yard throw, but Darnell Arceneaux again answered back with a one-yard touchdown run, knotting the game at 14 apiece.

The Riptide turned the ball over on downs on their next drive, giving Hawaii a chance to take the lead for the first time. The Islanders didn't waste the opportunity as Arceneaux drove Hawaii to the one-yard line before Chauncey Ako plowed in for the touchdown. In a small measure of redemption for the three kick-return scores they allowed to Anthony Arceneaux in their Week 9 meeting, Reyes returned the ensuing kickoff for a 56-yard touchdown, the longest of the year for the ‘Tide, again tying the game.

The Arceneaux brothers hooked up for a 13-yard touchdown score on the next Hawaii drive as the back-and-forth game continued. Claunch then found Graham for a 16-yarder, before Darnell Arceneaux found Taylor for a 48-yard bomb. Ryan Cuthbert then added the ‘Tide's only rushing score on a four-yard rumble with under a minute to play, sending the game to the half tied at 35.

The second half started off with a huge play for the Riptide. Trevor Misipeka forced a fumble by Darnell Arceneaux which Curtis recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to regain the lead for San Diego. Hawaii once again came storming back, however, as Arceneaux once again hooked up with Taylor. Claunch then connected with Carter and Darnell Arceneaux answered with another pass to his brother, Anthony, sending the game into the final quarter, still tied up.

The fourth quarter started off well, as Claunch hooked up with Greetis for a touchdown just 15 seconds in, but once again the Arceneaux brothers fought back, converting on a 16-yard score with 9:18 left to play. Fortunately for San Diego, however, Hawaii kicker Kimo Neahu missed the extra point, giving the ‘Tide the ball back with the lead.

Claunch hooked up with Carter for the fourth time in the game on the ensuing drive and Nakoa McElrath, who had four takeaways in his last two games, picked off Darnell Arceneaux on Hawaii's next drive to put the Riptide in the drivers seat for good. Rich Ehmke booted a 30-yard field goal to give San Diego an 11-point lead before Hawaii answered with another Arceneaux-to-Taylor score to pull to within five. The Islanders then recovered an on-side kick with 11 seconds left in the game, but the Riptide defense held strong, preserving the win.

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game: Dwight Carter (SDG)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Jesus Reyes (SDG)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Rico Curtis (SDG)

SHARK BITES: The four-game winning streak is the longest in club history and pulls the Riptide to the .500 mark for the first time since May 24, 2003... Claunch's six touchdown passes give him 53 on the season, just three shy of his career high and the Riptide single-season record... Carter's four touchdown catches give him 18 on the year and 27 for his Riptide career, marking a new team record. The old mark was held by Graham, who also added a score in the game and now has 25 receiving scores as a member of the Riptide... Carter's 144 yards receiving leave him just three shy of becoming San Diego's first ever 1,000-yard receiver... Matt Guardia failed to score in the game, leaving him one rushing touchdown shy of Curtis' club mark of eight... WR/DB Nakoa McElrath now has five takeaways in his last three games... Ehmke connected on 7-of-9 extra points and also booted the Riptide's first field goal since Week 7... Curtis has now recovered six fumbles on the season, including two for touchdowns... McElrath was held without a touchdown for the first time in five games... Hawaii outgained San Diego by 63 yards in the game, despite losing by five... The ‘Tide won the turnover battle once again, 3-1. They now boast an impressive +5 turnover ratio for the season... OL/DL Dustin Rykert was assigned by the league office this week. He chipped in with three tackles, including one sack and helped to hold Hawaii without a sack... WR/DB Ashley Burrows and QB Tony Corbin remain on long-term injured reserve... OL/DL Patrick Girardi was added to the short-term IR before the Riptide's bye week with a sore shoulder. He is expected to be ready to play next week vs. Bakersfield... The Riptide were assigned WR/DB Deondre Alexander by the league office before the game... OL/DL Rob Moore was reassigned to the league office prior to the game...

NEXT GAME: The Riptide return home next week to take on the Bakersfield Blitz for the first time this season at the Sports Arena. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 26 and the first 3,000 fans will receive complementary Riptide ball caps, courtesy of Sportsbook.com. Fans can catch all the action for every Riptide game with Mark Rogondino calling the play-by-play, by visiting www.WorldTalkRadio.com.



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