Stealth Downed by Islanders
Published on May 18, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Honolulu, Haw. - The Stealth came out of the gates well but just couldn't seem to keep up with the Hawaiian Islanders on this night. After a 30-28 halftime lead, the Stealth would only lead one more time and could never quite stop the Islanders. The Islanders defeated the Stealth 61-55 in front of 3,197 fans at the Neal Blaisdell Center. With the loss, the Stealth fall to 4-3 on the season and into second place in the West Division.
The Stealth broke open the scoring after a 24-yard interception return by defensive specialist Deniel Anglin, the first of his pro career. Brian Goolsby found the end zone on a 6-yard run giving the Stealth a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Hawaii's Eddie Klaneski fumbled and it was picked up by Anthony Arceneaux and returned 24 yards to the Wichita 9-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Hawaii quarterback Darnell Arceneaux found wide receiver/linebacker Isaac White for a 9-yard touchdown, tying the game up 7-7. The Stealth would come right back on the next possession. Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich found wide receiver/linebacker Greg Kyler for a 41-yard touchdown reception; the conversion attempt failed bringing the score to 13-7.
At the 9:51 mark of the second quarter, tempers began to flare as a melee broke out resulting in two players being ejected from each team. For the Stealth, linemen Drew Mitchell and Kerry Linnear were ejected and for the Islanders, wide receiver Mike Tillis and lineman Morrie Roe were ejected. The field was cleared while order was restored and the teams were brought back after a 14 minute delay. On the first possession after the break, the Stealth drove the ball down the field and capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Buich to wide receiver/linebacker Shomari Buchanan, putting the Stealth up 23-21.
The Stealth defense would force the Islanders to attempt a 40-yard field goal on the next possession and in a repeat performance from two weeks ago, Michael Dritlein would return the miss down the left side of the field 52 yards for a touchdown putting the Stealth out to a nine point lead, 30-21. The Islanders would end the scoring in the first half on an 18-yard touchdown catch by Channon Harris from Darnell Arceneaux bringing the score to 30-28 at the end of the first half.
The Islanders began the second half scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Darnell Arceneaux to Nian Taylor putting them on top 35-30. The Stealth would answer right back marching down the field in four plays and ending the drive when Buich had great protection from his line and found Dritlein for a 9-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked leaving the score 36-35 with Wichita on top. The Islanders would get the next two scores. On their first possession, they scored putting them on top 41-36. Then on the ensuing kickoff, they recovered a Dritlein fumble and it led to a 10-yard pass from Arceneaux to Nian Taylor, putting the Islanders up 47-36.
In the fourth quarter, Shomari Buchanan stepped up and brought in two touchdown passes from Buich, the first was a 9-yard score and the second was a 29-yard reception. The Islanders would also add two more scores in the quarter. The first was a Chris Paogofie 1 yard plunge and the second a 42-yard pass from Arceneaux to Taylor. Taylor was named Ironman of the Game for his performance. He finished the night with four receptions for 77 yards and three touchdowns, while on defense he compiled eight tackles and one fumble recovery.
Offensive specialist Michael Dritlein and wide receiver/linebacker Shomari Buchanan led the Stealth. Dritlein finished the night with seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Buchanan had nine catches for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Brian Goolsby was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Goolsby had two tackles, one for a loss, and had one sack.
Game MVP went to Hawaii's Eddie Klaneski. Klaneski had 203 all-purpose yards and one touchdown on the night.
The Stealth will be on the road again next week as they travel to Peoria. Illinois to face the defending champion Peoria Pirates. The Stealth will return home on May 31st to take on the Green Bay Blizzard (0-6), who the Stealth beat 41-26 in Green Bay on April 19th.
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- Stealth Downed by Islanders - Wichita Stealth
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