Mayhem gearing up for potential finale of Columbus rivalry

By default, geography made Columbus a natural rival for the Macon Mayhem when it was announced that Mayhem would begin play in Macon last season in the SPHL. So much so that among the guests at the press conference announcing the team was Cottonmouths owner Wanda Amos.

And the expectations of that rivalry have lived up to the billing. Macon beat out Columbus for an SPHL playoff spot last year, and all but one of the six contests this season between the two teams have been decided by a goal.

The potential final chapter in the rivalry between The Peach State’s SPHL franchises could come this weekend when Macon hosts Columbus before playing the Cottonmouths on the road Saturday. The Mayhem wrap up the weekend on Sunday at home against Knoxville.

Amos told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on March 2 that if new ownership for the team cannot be found, the team is prepared to cease operations at the end of the season.

Columbus no longer being part of the SPHL would not only mean the absence of an opponent which tends to bring a heavy dose of intensity against Macon. It would also mean a longer trip for the diehard fans who attend games on the road from time to time. While Columbus is within a two-hour drive from Macon, the next closest teams currently in the SPHL are in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, each about four and a half hours from Macon.

“They’re an interstate rival and all the games have been close. You can definitely tell there’s a rivalry,” Mayhem forward Collin MacDonald said. “I hope for their sake they are here next year, and for our sake, too. It’s a fun rivalry to have, and the fans like it, too.”

Even without the off-ice factors, there is a lot on the line for both teams going into the weekend. Macon (30-9-5 with 65 points) is tied for first place with Huntsville. Columbus (16-26-3) is fighting for its postseason life, one point behind of eighth-place Roanoke.

“We try to approach every team the same, but we also know they (are) playing for their lives,” MacDonald said.

The Mayhem expect a desperate Cottonmouths team this weekend. Columbus won last Saturday’s game between the two teams 4-3 after Macon rallied from a two-goal deficit before a late goal gave Columbus the win.

“Saturday was kind of a mishap, but it happens,” Mayhem defenseman Daniel Echeverri said. “We just have to go into Friday and be a little more hungry.”

This story was originally published March 15, 2017 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Mayhem gearing up for potential finale of Columbus rivalry."