August 7, 2017 at 12:56 p.m.
White edges Green on Family Day
White edges Green on Family Day
The Hodags' White squad edged the Green unit four touchdowns to two Saturday in the third annual Hodag Football Family Day in front of Mike Webster Stadium. A string of three straight scoring drives for the White squad in the first of two 30-minute sessions provided enough cushion during the final 30-minute session, which belonged primarily to the defense.
"I saw a lot of great plays and I saw some mistakes," RHS football coach Chris Ferge said afterward. "I'm excited about the energy and how physical we're playing right now."
Senior quarterback Logan Freund found fellow senior Reuben Guzik for scoring passes of six and 22 yards during the White team's second and third possessions of the limited-contact practice. Freund added an 11-yard scoring run to put the White team ahead two scores at the break.
Junior Brock Lieder, who's pushing Freund for reps out of the shotgun during practice, also had two passing and one rushing touchdown during the practice. The Hodags' 41-man varsity roster was divided evenly by talent, just as it was during the first few days of camp, to give more players a greater opportunity to prove themselves at certain positions.
"We want them to fight against each other," Ferge said of the Green-White format. "They need to learn to do that now so that when they come together with our first unit they can really play physical football."
After both teams went 3-and-out on their opening possessions of the scrimmage, Freund marched the White team 60 yards down field before finding Guzik on a six-yard slant route for the practice's opening score.
Lieder and the Green team answered on the very next play with a deep ball down the sideline hauled in by Cole Spaulding, who has moved from running back to wide receiver during camp. The senior eluded a couple of defenders as he raced all the way for a 60-yard score.
Freund dropped a ball into Guzik on a 22-yard fade route to put the White team ahead one score. Later, Freund called his own number on an 11-yard scoring run.
Lieder brought the Green team back within a score late in the second session on a deep ball down the far sideline to Tyler Olson for a 56-yard score and then reprieved Freund at quarterback for the White team, finishing a 60-yard drive with a 20-yard scoring scramble.
The defense had its moments as well, stopping the offense on 10 of the 16 possessions during the practice. The defensive units recorded four sacks and nine tackles for loss. Senior Kevin Albrant came away with the practice's only turnover when he outjumped receiver Sam Tjugum to intercept Freund on the White team's first possession of the second session.
Freund finished the practice 7 of 15 through the air for 89 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He added 30 yards and a score on nine carries. Lieder, who missed much of last season after sustaining a leg injury in a Week 2 win at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, was 6 of 12 for 151 yards and two scores. He rushed four times for 32 yards and a score.
While the Hodags' roster is relatively senior-heavy, with 15 12th-graders on the squad, it also features a large sophomore class of 20 strong. One of those sophomores, Drake Martin, had a big day as the feature back for the White team. He carried 17 times for 104 yards and recorded four rushes of 12 yards or greater during the practice.
In addition to varsity sessions, the practice included a brief 7-on-7 segment for middle school players and two 11-on-11 sessions for the RHS freshman team, which boasts a deep roster of 28 players.
"I've been with these guys for three years at the middle school, so I know every single one of these guys," Ferge said of the large freshman class. "They're good athletes. They're good kids. They have a great coaching staff. I'm very excited about their year and excited about our program, period."
A nice turnout of former players, classmates, families and community members attended the 2 1/2-hour practice. The event was sponsored by the Hodag Gridiron Club and featured games and activities for spectators throughout the day and even included a visit from Packers Hall of Fame fullback William Henderson.
"Being here, around the sport I love, watching this next generation of football players get ready for a season, my blood is turning right now. I'm getting excited," said Henderson, who was at the practice as part of promotional event put on by Rhinelander GM/Toyota.
"It's just a practice, we tell our kids that every year, but we're very appreciative of this day and this event," Ferge said. "We're appreciative of the Gridiron Club and all the parents and all the support. We're blessed with another beautiful day."
The Family Day practice concluded the first week of activities for the RHS football team. Ferge said he was impressed with the team's effort and heart during the first five days.
"We have a long way to go, no doubt about it, but we're making progress every single day," he said.
Monday was the team's first full-padded practice of the fall as the team works up to Friday's three-team scrimmage at Northland Pines.
"I'm excited to put on full pads next week and turn it up to a new level," Ferge said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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