Rhinos Horn Past Warrior Kings 34-33 in Desert Extravaganza
As fans paraded through downtown Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, past the scrub and steppe leading to Etosha Stadium, the cool autumn breeze of 59 degrees signaled to fans of the White Rhinos and all in the African Pro League that a major battle was upon them. For it was this evening after a one season hiatus the Windhoek White Rhinos played in the 8th renewal of the clash with the Dar es Salaam Warrior Kings. And the sold-out Etosha stadium crowd was treated to an instant APL classic, watching their hometown Rhinos squeak past the Warrior Kings 34-33 to grab sole possession of first place in the APL Lion Conference and a virtual lock on the #1 seed and home field advantage for the Season 12 playoffs.
"While we were away in the World League, the Warrior Kings really beefed up their team and stepped it up three notches" said Rhinos owner StiffarmSteve. "We expected a tough battle, but a one point last minute victory off a missed PAT stunned everyone." And behind the aerial assault of QB Tarzell Tazzle and the run crushing force of their defense, the Rhinos left it all on the field. "Our defense really stepped in to dominate the Warrior Kings rushing game" said all-star WR Andre Evans, who grabbed two TD's of his own. And while the Rhinos have come to expect great things from their DE Rock Hornash who added 2 rib cracking sacks, it was the play of DE Mr. Kodak that really turned the tide. "Those 4 hurries were the best of my career and maybe in the history of the Rhinos and the sack was not half bad" said Kodak. "It is such a rush to perform so well against such elite competition."
The Warrior Kings had a tough time stopping the dual rushing/passing threat of the Rhinos but did manage to force three fumbles, recovering two and were able to hold their own up to the last 57 seconds in the game. "We were really surprised to be facing the Rhinos again so soon" said Warrior Kings owner Shalubis. "With the exception of LOL no one thought the other inaugural representatives of APL in the WL would mean SOL." *phew* that is a lot of acronyms. LOL.
The Warrior Kings took the lead they thought was for good at the 1:47 mark when QB Drew Charrette connected on his 36th TD of the season to WR Speedy Monkey. But what followed was an unfortunate miss on the PAT by K Pullit Hard. "I picked the wrong time to live up to the meaning of my name" said Hard. "I really feel I let the team down today, but whenever it gets too bad, I just blame the holder." After that botched play, the Rhinos offense went on a passing spree that led to the game winning extra point from Rhinos K Automatic Clutch. "Lived up to my name, that's what I do" said Clutch. Upon hearing that drivel, TE Steve Stiffarm rolled his eyes in obvious anguish and kicked Clutch in the nads.
Pushing their record to 9-0, the Rhinos begin the softer part of their schedule with a firm grip on that #1 seed. The win was also the sixth straight victory for the Rhinos over the Warrior Kings, who haven't defeated WWR since the Season 7 playoffs. The road for the Warrior Kings is much tougher, as they face a brutal stretch beginning with the Quiçama Park Rangers, this writer's new favorite team. One thing that IS almost automatic: you will see these two teams square off again in the playoffs, possibly for the Conference Championship. And it was play like these two teams displayed in this battle that has all of APL chanting "What makes a king out of a slave? Courage!"
As fans paraded through downtown Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, past the scrub and steppe leading to Etosha Stadium, the cool autumn breeze of 59 degrees signaled to fans of the White Rhinos and all in the African Pro League that a major battle was upon them. For it was this evening after a one season hiatus the Windhoek White Rhinos played in the 8th renewal of the clash with the Dar es Salaam Warrior Kings. And the sold-out Etosha stadium crowd was treated to an instant APL classic, watching their hometown Rhinos squeak past the Warrior Kings 34-33 to grab sole possession of first place in the APL Lion Conference and a virtual lock on the #1 seed and home field advantage for the Season 12 playoffs.
"While we were away in the World League, the Warrior Kings really beefed up their team and stepped it up three notches" said Rhinos owner StiffarmSteve. "We expected a tough battle, but a one point last minute victory off a missed PAT stunned everyone." And behind the aerial assault of QB Tarzell Tazzle and the run crushing force of their defense, the Rhinos left it all on the field. "Our defense really stepped in to dominate the Warrior Kings rushing game" said all-star WR Andre Evans, who grabbed two TD's of his own. And while the Rhinos have come to expect great things from their DE Rock Hornash who added 2 rib cracking sacks, it was the play of DE Mr. Kodak that really turned the tide. "Those 4 hurries were the best of my career and maybe in the history of the Rhinos and the sack was not half bad" said Kodak. "It is such a rush to perform so well against such elite competition."
The Warrior Kings had a tough time stopping the dual rushing/passing threat of the Rhinos but did manage to force three fumbles, recovering two and were able to hold their own up to the last 57 seconds in the game. "We were really surprised to be facing the Rhinos again so soon" said Warrior Kings owner Shalubis. "With the exception of LOL no one thought the other inaugural representatives of APL in the WL would mean SOL." *phew* that is a lot of acronyms. LOL.
The Warrior Kings took the lead they thought was for good at the 1:47 mark when QB Drew Charrette connected on his 36th TD of the season to WR Speedy Monkey. But what followed was an unfortunate miss on the PAT by K Pullit Hard. "I picked the wrong time to live up to the meaning of my name" said Hard. "I really feel I let the team down today, but whenever it gets too bad, I just blame the holder." After that botched play, the Rhinos offense went on a passing spree that led to the game winning extra point from Rhinos K Automatic Clutch. "Lived up to my name, that's what I do" said Clutch. Upon hearing that drivel, TE Steve Stiffarm rolled his eyes in obvious anguish and kicked Clutch in the nads.Pushing their record to 9-0, the Rhinos begin the softer part of their schedule with a firm grip on that #1 seed. The win was also the sixth straight victory for the Rhinos over the Warrior Kings, who haven't defeated WWR since the Season 7 playoffs. The road for the Warrior Kings is much tougher, as they face a brutal stretch beginning with the Quiçama Park Rangers, this writer's new favorite team. One thing that IS almost automatic: you will see these two teams square off again in the playoffs, possibly for the Conference Championship. And it was play like these two teams displayed in this battle that has all of APL chanting "What makes a king out of a slave? Courage!"
Edited by kondor on Nov 2, 2009 02:54:22
