September 27, 2017 at 12:51 p.m.
Hodags look to cage Bluejays on homecoming
Hodags look to cage Bluejays on homecoming
This Friday, as the Hodags prepare to host Merrill in the homecoming game at Mike Webster Stadium, coach Chris Ferge is hoping last week's improvement manifests itself in a more competitive contest.
Mosinee outgained Rhinelander by only 11 yards last week, but the Indians' average starting field position for its first six drives was Rhinelander's 43-yard-line. Mosinee used that short field to its advantage as it raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead.
"We had some situations where we were starting to stand up to their offense and then a penalty would get thrown," Ferge said. "We had a couple key penalties that really hurt us, I think and we were never able to win the downs - the third down and the fourth down. We needed to make those plays. Those plays were made by Mosinee and I give them the credit."
Rhinelander was able to run the ball effectively against Mosinee, racking up a season-high 244 yards on the ground. Sophomore running back Drake Martin rushed for 190 yards last week and, at 604 yards for the season, has a legitimate shot of reaching the 1,000-yard plateau.
"Our team is built to run the ball and we can run the ball," Ferge said following Friday's game. "We should be able to run the ball. We have a good back. We have a good running quarterback. Our offensive line is very athletic and strong. That is what we should be able to do."
The Hodags will need a balanced attack, and some timely stops on defense, keep Merrill's high-powered offense at bay.
The Bluejays racked up 552 yards of offense in a 44-6 drubbing of Lakeland this past Saturday at Jay Stadium.
"We went and saw that game and we were very impressed with what they were able to do," Ferge said.
Merrill dual-threat quarterback Zach Mootz had a big game in the win against the T-Birds. He was 10 of 14 through the air for 207 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed six times for 61 yards and two additional scores.
"Their quarterback's a very good quarterback," Ferge said. "He can throw the ball. He's not just a runner - and he can run as well. Then they have a good running game. They're very balanced."
Nevada Laabs and Nate Grefe split the bulk of the carries last week, which it typical of Merrill's offense. So far the Bluejays have five players carry the ball at least 36 times. All five have rushed for 225 yards or more, led by Laabs (53 carries-393 yards-6 TDs) and Dominic Leistikow (57-281-0).
Laabs (13 receptions-51 yards) is also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. Jared Olhoff (10-270-1) and Hunter Hintze (9-166) are Merrill's leading receivers.
"You've got to be careful about loading up the box against the run and then having a cover-3 over the top," Ferge said. "They really hit up the middle of the field against them with some dig route and they were able to go deep with a couple of their threats.
Aside from the 42 points Kewaskum hung up on the Bluejays in a Week 2 non-conference loss, Merrill's defense has been particularly stingy. Merrill has allowed only five touchdowns in the four contests since. The Bluejays coming in allowing 171 rushing yards and 101 passing yards per game.
"They're going to give you what they normally give you, from what I've seen throughout the years," Ferge said. "They run a 4-2 defense, or a 4-4 defense, depending on what you are going to do and cover-3. You're going to see that."
Other notes of interest heading into Friday night's game:
Last year's close shave
The Hodags came within a whisker of upsetting the Bluejays at Mike Webster Stadium last year, having a potential go-ahead touchdown called back because of a procedure penalty in the final minute, before losing 15-12.
The stats in last year's game were very even, with the Bluejays outgaining Rhinelander 262-234 and the Hodag defense limiting the Bluejays to just over four yards per carry.
While some of the players are different, Ferge said the key to success for the Hodags is similar to what is was in last year's near miss.
"We want to have fun," he said. "We want to play fast. We want to make plays. We want to play as a team. That's what we have to do every single play, no matter what. Rise to the occasion and make sure that we're playing with these guys."
Happy homecoming
Rhinelander has not won a homecoming game since 2012 when it defeated Merrill 14-13 to become playoff eligible for the first time since 1989.
There is a lot that goes into homecoming week - including dress-up days, boys' spike volleyball, girls' powderpuff football, the pep rally, parade and Saturday night's dance.
That means a lot of potential distractions, but Ferge said Rhinelander has had extra activities surrounding all of its home games this season. He said he wants his team to embrace the homecoming festivities rather than look at them as a distraction.
"Our guys are to enjoy homecoming," he said. "That's what we're telling them to do. They're smart enough to know what they can do and what the cannot do. They are supposed to enjoy homecoming. It's their homecoming. We want them to enjoy all the experiences and win the game. We want them to have it all."
Taking a stand
There has been plenty of talk over the last week regarding the way football players and teams handle the national anthem sparked, in part, by social media comments made by President Donald Trump.
Before every game, the Hodag football team stands in the end zone during the anthem, and raises its helmets in the air at its conclusion. Ferge said he did not expect that practice to change anytime soon.
"We have a lot of guys who are going into the military next year or are already in the process of going into the military," he said. "We love our country and we're going to stand for the national anthem. We don't know anything different."
"I'm not going to be taking a stand against anything anybody does but, for us, it's a great moment in high school football to stand and have the national anthem. We respect it and it's a part of our game," he added.
The Hodags usually particate in a patriotic pregame. Before each game, one player is designated to lead the team out onto the field, while carrying the American flag.
"Anything like that, that galvanizes our team and that we're proud of, we're going to definitely honor," Ferge said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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