October 1, 2018 at 1:14 p.m.
Slow start, mistakes cost Hodags in 21-7 loss to Merrill
Slow start, mistakes cost Hodags in 21-7 loss to Merrill
The Hodags committed four more turnovers on Saturday at Jay Stadium, and Merrill's rushing game dominated the first half, as the Bluejays won their homecoming game 21-7 at the Hodags' expense.
The victory kept faint playoff hopes alive for Merrill (2-5, 1-3 Great Northern), while the loss officially eliminated Rhinelander (1-6, 0-4) from playoff contention for the sixth straight season.
Merrill fullback Dominic Leistikow rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns for a Bluejay offense that gained 364 yards, all on the ground. Rhinelander, meanwhile, committed several costly mistakes on offense that took away quality scoring chances.
"There's mistakes at key points where you absolutely can't have mistakes hurt us," Hodag coach Chris Ferge said. "I think a lot of it's between the ears. A lot of it's mental. A lot of them, they don't believe in themselves on certain plays and that's where we're having our lapses as a team."
Merrill scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions, never trailed in the contest and had amassed 230 rushing by halftime.
The Bluejays took the ball 70 yards on six plays on the game's opening possession, capped off by a nine-yard score by Holden Smith. Leistikow scored on runs of four and six yards in the second quarter, which proved to be the final margin of victory for Merrill.
Rhinelander's defense stiffened in the second half - allowing only 134 yards and keeping the Bluejays off the board - but Ferge said it was too little, too late against Merrill's triple option attack.
"Our guys were right there and did not make the plays. We were right there. It was too much of this feeling it out stuff, like they were fighters or something and just waiting. (Merrill) didn't feel it out. They took their shots.
"We're not making the plays at certain positions. We're playing teams physically as good as us, so we can't afford to do that. Our guys need to hit and drive when they tackle. They need to play to whistle. Those key things that help you win are not happening and the turnovers are killing us."
Rhinelander was in position to answer Merrill's opening drive, marching down to the Bluejay 12. On fourth-and-5, the Hodags passed on what would been a 30-yard field goal attempt, and went with a jet sweep play that was doomed from the start. Quarterback Brock Lieder had difficulty handling a high snap from center Trevor Knapp, then fumbled the exchange with receiver Josh Francisco and Merrill recovered at the 16.
Running back Drake Martin had 86 yards on 16 carries for Rhinelander, including a 1-yard score that tied the game early in the second quarter. The Hodags were set up with great field position on that drive after Merrill botched a snap on a punt. Walker Hartman blocked Tyler Wolff's hurried punt attempt and the Hodags recovered at the Merrill 23.
After that, it was another case of self-inflicted wounds for the Hodag offense. Rhinelander had a glimmer of hope before the end of the half as Lieder got free on an option keeper, but he had the ball stripped at the Merrill 30 and the Bluejays recovered.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Hodags inside the 5, Lieder took a sweep around right end and appeared to be on his way to the end zone until Merrill's Quinn Steckbauer punched out the ball inside the 1. It rolled into the end zone for a Merrill touchback.
"Offensively, again, it's a situation where we have the ball inside the 20 and we're not scoring," Ferge said. "We need to absolutely score."
The Hodags had one more chance late in the game, but a Peyton Erikson 37-yard touchdown on a reverse was called back due to holding. Three plays later, Martin threw a game-clinching interception on a halfback option pass.
Lieder added 97 yards on 6 of 12 passing and carried the ball 11 times for 57 yards. Tight end Connor Lund made two grabs for 39 yards for the Hodags.
Smith finished with 69 yards on 11 carries for Merrill, while Steckbauer had 13 carries for 51 yards from the quarterback position.
Rhinelander returns home this Friday for its annual homecoming game against the surprising Ashland Oredockers. The Hodags won 20-12 up in Ashland last October, but the Oredockers (6-1, 4-0) come in following a 22-6 win over Lakeland on Friday and can clinch a share of their first Great Northern Conference title with a win over Rhinelander.
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