Rhinosand Warriors just one game away

By Danny Roberts

Both the Atlanta Rhinos and the Central Florida Warriors have the chance to make their first ever Championship Final this year but will have to overcome their toughest task to date by facing each other in knockout fashion in the South Conference Final.

In what was the most competitive season in the South’s history the Atlanta Rhinos finished atop of the division just ahead of, you guessed it, the Central Florida Warriors. Having played each other twice over the course of the season you would think that you could easily pick a favourite for the Conference Final, except in 2015 it stands at 1-1 in games. In week 4, the Rhinos hosted the Warriors defeating them 34-28 and then in week 6 the Warriors turned the tables, defeating the Rhinos 36-22 at home.

The first of the South semi-finals saw the Atlanta Rhinos drawn against the Tampa Mayhem at Silverbacks Park on July 25. It was a close encounter in which Rhinos’ winger Kwamé Little showed his class scoring four tries, three of which came in the first half, in a 32-26 victory to send the Georgia based side to their first ever South Conference encounter.

On August 1, the Central Florida Warriors took on the Jacksonville Axemen in Deland, in a fixture that many are saying has laid the foundations for a great rivalry in the coming years. The Axemen were hoping to make it to a fourth consecutive Championship final and, after receiving the news that the final will be held at their home ground for the second consecutive year, they were high on confidence. However, the Warriors still remembered 2014’s Conference Championship game in which the Axemen defeated them pretty convincingly 40-12 and were out for revenge. The magic in this game would be conjured up by the Warriors’ Rod Ceaser who, not wanting to be outdone by Rhinos’ winger Kwamé Little in the other semi-final game, scored four tries of his own; only, all four of his came in the first half of play. The game finished 44-14 to the Warriors to set up a mouth-watering clash with the Rhinos in Jacksonville on August 15.

Last year in the South Conference Play-offs, the Rhinos were stunned by the Warriors who beat them 42-26, however a full year has passed and it is clear that both teams have built on their 2014 strengths and weaknesses and this game promises to be a much closer affair. Watch out for both the Rhinos Kwamé Little and the Warriors’ Rod Ceaser in the battle of the semi-final MVPs, as this match-up will be just as exciting a clash as the fixture itself.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME INFO: Central Florida Warriors vs Atlanta Rhinos

August 15 - Gates open at 4:30pm / Kick off 5:30pm

• VENUE: Practice Soccer Fields beside Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida. Entry is from LOT 18. (Best entrance is from Central Parkway).
• ENTRY: Walk-up entry is $8 at the gate. Kids 15 and under are FREE. *Those who have Rhinos Season tickets get free entry by producing their season ticket pass at the gate. *No outside Food or Beverage is allowed inside the game field. Full concessions are sold onsite.

TAILGATING: It is allowed in LOT 18 near the entry to the field, BUT all tailgaters are required to bring trash bags and remove ALL their own trash. The Jacksonville Axemen have a great relationship with UNF and ask that all trash is removed per university guidelines. (Campus Police Patrol the area).

HOTEL: The team will be staying at the DAYS INN in Neptune Beach. Fans can get double rooms with breakfast at the DAYS INN in Neptune Beach for $59 (plus tax), by calling and using the code "AXEMEN".