ISLANDERS WIPE OFF THE
RUST AND DEFEAT FRESNO
Ryan Buchan,
Islanders Staff Writer
Mar. 1, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Islanders
get their first victory, by defeating the Fresno Pirates
28-7.
Coming to the stadium the players did not even have their uniforms. Before
the game, Islander staff members worked hard to put together
helmets and distribute equipment. During the game the chain
crew carried around a couple of cones attached to a 10 yard
rope. But none of those factors hindered the overall
performance of the team.
The Islanders have only been practicing once a week since January and it
showed during the first quarter.
After starting the game with a 10 yard Mike Patolo sweep,
the offense was plagued with penalties and sloppy play. The
passing game looked out of sync resulting in a Jason
Piccolotti interception.
While the offense struggled at times the defense played well
for most of the game only allowing one Fresno touchdown.
Even though Fresno was able to move the ball into the
red-zone multiple times.
After the Piccolotti interception, the Islanders shut down the Pirate
offense by forcing a three and out. Fresno started their
second drive with a 20 yard run, but the defense toughened
up and forced a Fresno punt.
In the second quarter, the Fresno offense started to click, by moving the
ball inside the Islander 30. The defense responded with a
Surrel Davis interception. The defense gave up its first and
only score with 5:32 to go in the second quarter when Layton
Johnson got into the end-zone with a two yard quarterback
sneak.
The Defense found themselves in trouble again in the third quarter when
Fresno was three yards away from scoring after another
Piccolotti interception and a 94 yard return. The defense
played tough on first and second down allowing minimal
gains. On third and goal Fresno attempted a screen and
Islander linebacker Chauncey Ako acted like a missile,
exploding into the receiver, jarring the ball loose to bring
up fourth and goal. Ako finished the game with five and half
tackles. Fresno attempted a field goal but missed wide-left.
In the fourth quarter in a close ball game the defense stepped up again.
When Piccolotti threw his third interception the defense did
not allow the Pirates to pick up any momentum. The defense
line busted through the Fresno Offensive line picking up a
sack and hurrying the quarterback into a bad pass that
resulted in Patolo interception. Patolo played both sides of
the ball and picked up 49 yards rushing on 11 carries
averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
The overall play of the offense could be best explained by head coach Jack
Burgett who said they suffered from many
mistakes but showed a "Flash of Brilliance" now and then.
In the second quarter the passing game started to flow when
Piccolotti threw two touchdowns. The first one was a 13 yard
pass to wide receiver Donyell Crain. The second touchdown
was a 61 yard bomb to Ngumezi Obioma.
A play that displayed brilliance occurred on the first play of the fourth
quarter when Jason Piccolotti dropped back to pass, soon he
found himself surrounded by Fresno defenders, somehow he was
able to break a couple of tackles and come out of the sea of
black alive, but his problems were not over, he looked down
the field and failed to find a receiver right away which
allowed a Fresno Defender to get his arms around Piccolotti,
however the quarterback stayed strong and shrugged off the
tackler and found
running back Jermaine Hargraves open resulting in a 20 yard
pass.
Hargraves had a productive game rushing for 103 yards on 15
carries, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, and scored one
touchdown.
"It's easy when you got the line we got" Hargraves said.
"The line opens the hole, I just follow them."
Hargraves filled in for former Kansas City Chiefs tailback Jarmar Julian
who sat out with an injury. Hargraves hard running allowed
the passing game to finish of Fresno. With less than two
minutes remaining, Pacifica went with a deep pass to Crain
which resulted in a 78 touchdown, giving the Islanders a
28-7 lead, ending all hopes for a Fresno comeback.
Jason Piccolotti finished the day passing 9 for 17, 237 yards, three
touchdowns and three interceptions. Piccolotti thought his
play was rusty, and contribute the success he did have to
his offensive line. "The best offensive line around,"
Piccolotti said. "I just try and run, and not mess up." The
Islanders were able to put up the victory without much
practice. But that is just the way it is in this league
according to Burgett. "A lot of these guys are working, they
got jobs they got families, and they have to make a hell of
a commitment, they are not making any money" Burgett said.
“I am lucky if I get half the team on Thursday" for
practice. To win in this league you have to "improvise,
adapt and overcome," Burgett said, "Hang loose and adjust"
to win. The Islanders travel next week to face the South
Valley Falcons.
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