Game Report: Axemen win Semi-Final and move on to USARL Championship
The Firehouse Subs Jacksonville Axemen secured the position to play in their 4th National Championship game in the last 5 years with a win last weekend over the Rhode Isl…and Rebellion. The Axemen came out strong scoring two tries in the first quarter from Josh Cock and Matt Thornton, and with Rich Allegers conversion kicks the game was off to a solid start for the Axemen with a score of 12-0. In the second quarter the Axemen scored three consecutive tries as they pushed forward with the offense. Brenden Beedle scored twice along with another try by Akarika Dawn to make the lead 28-0 at the half. Josh Cock scored early in the second half but the Rhode Island Rebellion refused to give up and scored two tries in a row, closing the gap to 32-12. Captain and Coach Brent Shorten got the Axemen going again and scored another try to bring the score to 38-12 at the end of third quarter. The hot Florida heat was apparent in the fourth quarter and the score remained quiet until Akarika Dawn’s second try of the game. Final score was 44-12 and the Jacksonville Axemen celebrated their advancement to the USARL Championship. “It was a good win,” says Brent Shorten. “It was nice to have another home semi-final in front of our fans and I think it really helped us perform. It will be a good build-up to the championship game and if we prepare well and play to our potential the Axemen will be very hard to beat.” The Axemen will play in their 4th National Championship game against the Philadelphia Fight on Saturday August 24, 3pm at A. A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken, PA.