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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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