August 30, 2017 at 1:25 p.m.
Rhinelander, Wausau East to battle on gridiron for first time since '09
Rhinelander, Wausau East to battle on gridiron for first time since '09
The Hodags and Wausau East will get together for the first time since 2009, an important game for both teams early in the season. For Rhinelander, it's the last chance at a non-conference opponent before kicking off the Great Northern Conference slate at Medford Sept. 8. For Wausau East, fresh off snapping a 19-game losing streak that dated back to 2014, the game against the Hodags is the first step in what could be a potential move to the GNC for the former Valley Football Association program.
"It's important that we play competitively, that we stay in this game for both halves, and see what we're capable of doing," RHS football coach Chris Ferge said. "I want to make sure we're playing our best. It's a big game for us."
Paramount for Rhinelander this week is playing well for a full 48 minutes. The Hodags trailed Prescott by one at halftime in the opener, only to be dominated in the second half and fall 27-13. Last week at Tomahawk, first-half struggles derailed the Hodags, who were outscored 22-0 in the second quarter and went on to a 30-14 defeat.
"Our kids know what they're capable of doing when they play well and they need to do that at all times," Ferge said. "I believe they know that and they just have to make that happen at practice this week to make sure that happens in the game."
Offensively, Wausau East, under the direction of former Merrill head coach Tom Tourtillott, is much different than the running attacks the Hodags faced the first two weeks of the season. The Lumberjacks pass more than they run and have only accumulated 67 rushing yards through the first two games of the season.
East's offense is led by junior Jack Kane, who has completed 45.5 percent of his passes so far this season for 468 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His two primary targets have been senior Caleb Moses (8 catches-164 yards-1 TD) and junior Ryan Daniel (9-156-1). TQ Tidwell (20 carries-62 yards-1 TD) and Moses (10-21-1) have been the team's main options out of the backfield.
"They're going to throw the ball about as much as you're going to see with an opponent you're going to play," Ferge said, adding the preparation does not necessarily change that much for his team. "The list of plays and the list of routes (our defense has to cover) is more expanded because of the things that they do. Those formations, those routes, are going to be there and we're going to make sure our kids our prepared."
Defensively, the Lumberjacks come in allowing 331 yards per game over their first two contests. Opponents are averaging 5.4 yards per carry and are completing just under 60 percent of their passes so far against Wausau East.
"We expect them to be pretty physical with their linebackers," Ferge said. "Their linebackers are very fast. Then I think a similar situation (to us) with kids going both ways. It looks like it will be a pretty good matchup."
The Lumberjacks are going it alone this season, after pulling out of the VFA. It's a similar circumstance to Rhinelander's last matchup against Wausau East, a 25-7 win for the Hodags back in 2009. That year, Rhinelander had pulled out of the Wisconsin Valley Conference for football to play an independent schedule.
That set off a chain a conference realignment moves that eventually put Merrill and Rhinelander in the GNC for football and created the VFA, a merger of the Wisconsin Valley and the Fox Valley Association, for football.
After years of asking the WIAA to leave the WVC/VFA, East took matters into its own hands this year and chose to play an independent schedule after the Great Northern Conference declined to extend the Lumberjacks a football-only invitation.
However, Friday night's game is the first of four against GNC opponents for the Lumberjacks, who will also take on Merrill, Antigo and Mosinee later in the season. The games are seen as a potential trial balloon for future conference membership for the Lumberjacks.
"I think it works," Ferge said of how East would fit into the GNC football landscape. "I don't see (them) as being an overwhelming favorite or them absolutely dominanting us because of their (enrollment). They've had their problems as well. They have a good football team this year. They look pretty good. They're a different style. It will be interesting to see how it goes."
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Mike Webster Stadium.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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