October 15, 2018 at 12:29 p.m.
Lakeland edges Rhinelander 24-18 in season finale
Lakeland edges Rhinelander 24-18 in season finale
Lakeland's Jake Rexroade caught a pair of touchdown passes, including one that proved to be the game-winner, as the Thunderbirds defeated Rhinelander 24-18 in the Northwoods Axe Game at River Valley Bank Field in the 2018 season finale for both teams.
The game-winner was a 19-yard catch in the back of the end zone over Hodag defensive back Payton Johnson midway through the third quarter and came on a drive where Lakeland converted on third and 18 with a 34-yard completion from quarterback Michael Ouimette to receiver Ray Rentmeester.
"It sure seemed like we worked for it and they basically got it," Rhinelander coach Chris Ferge said. "That hurt. Our guys, I'm proud of them. They fought through the whole game."
Rhinelander had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but stalled out at the Lakeland 5-yard line. After Drake Martin misfired on a trick play pass on third-and-goal, sophomore quarterback Quinn Lamers, making his first varsity start, threw incomplete on fourth down following a partially fumbled snap.
Lakeland took the lead on a pair of Brandon Slavinsky touchdown runs in the final 4:42 of the first half and then answered Rhinelander's game-tying touchdown drive to start the second half with one of their own.
Rhinelander scored on its first two possessions of the game, marching 72 yards on nine plays for a Drake Martin one-yard run midway through the first quarter. Lamers scored from a yard out in the second quarter, capping off a 12-play, 60-yard drive.
A Rexroade 54-yard touchdown on a screen pass was sandwiched in between the two Hodag scores. Then Lakeland took advantage of some Rhinelander miscues late in the first half. Receiver Josh Francisco had a potential touchdown pass on a deep ball go through his hands as the Hodags went three-and-out on their next possession. A bad snap on the punt forced Martin to retreat to the end zone to pick up the loose ball and get off a hurried kick.
Lakeland cashed in on the short field, going 26 yards on five plays to set up the first of Slavinsky's two scores. Another Hodag 3-and-out game Lakeland one more chance with the ball before halftime and the T-Birds marched 69 yards on seven plays, capped off by a three-yard run by Slavinsky with 26 seconds remaining in the first half.
"I really wish we had a couple of those (plays) back in the first half," Ferge said. "We worked for everything we got. We dropped some big passes for touchdowns and missed some big opportunities in the first half. Defensively, we gave up a huge one. The missed snap on the punt hurt us badly and they took advantage of it."
After failing to score earlier in the fourth quarter, the Hodags got the ball back with 4:50 to play, but went backward thanks to a personal foul penalty on a punt return, followed by a holding call on the first play of the drive. The Hodags eventually punted and Lakeland took all but 26 seconds off the clock from there. With no timeouts remaining, Rhinelander managed to get back only to its own 40-yard line before time expired.
The loss capped off a 1-8 season for Rhinelander and the team's fourth 0-6 record in Great Northern Conference play over the last five years.
"We always thank our seniors for everything, win or loss," Ferge said. "The last game, it's tough. It's hard to say goodbye to some of these guys. Some of these guys, especially our captains, worked their tails off and they deserved more this year. I wish there were more of them. I wish they had more opportunities, yet, we love them. We're going to miss them. We don't have a lot of shoes to fill, but they are big shoes."
Lamers' debut
Lamers got the call over senior Brock Lieder under center for the Hodags, after relieving Lieder midway through the first quarter of a Week 8 loss to Ashland. The sophomore signal caller finished 8 of 20 passing for 119 yards and threw an interception in the third quarter on a deep pass intended for Jackson Labs.
"I thought it was good, at times," Ferge said of Lamers' play. "One time he didn't get a good snap on the ball he had to throw (on fourth and goal). He takes everything to heart. He's a competitor. He knows what's going on. I joke around, but he really is like a Peyton Manning. He's another coach on the field. I know, physically, he's going to grow into that role and be better next year."
Lieder moved to receiver for Friday's game and caught a pass in the second quarter that set up Lamers' one-yard score. Lieder threw one pass in the game, missing incomplete on a trick play in the final seconds of the first half.
Stat lines
Lakeland's explosive passing game was on display. Ouimette completed 9 of 14 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. All nine of his completions went to his dynamic senior duo of Rexroade and Rentmeester, who entered the night 1-2 in the GNC in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.
Rexroade caught four passes for 120 yards and Rentmeester caught five passes for 71.
Ouimette added 74 yards rushing on 17 carries. Slavinsky also carried the ball 17 times for 72 yards for the T-Birds.
Martin was the workhorse for Rhinelander, with 30 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 1,163 yards on the season, surpassing his total of 1,122 yards in 2017. Martin also unofficially won the GNC rushing title with 862 yards in six conference games. He entered the night 26 yards behind Medford's Garret Hill, who rushed for 67 yards in a 28-12 loss to the Oredoeckers before leaving the game in the third quarter due to injury.
Lamers completed passes to six different receivers for the Hodags. Peyton Erikson was his favorite target with three catches for 39 yards.
Trying tries
Neither team had a successful conversion Friday. Rhinelander, without kicker Freddy Wisner (illness) was 0 for 3 on two-point conversions. Martin was stopped twice on two-point runs and Lamers missed a two-point pass.
Lakeland was 0 for 4 on PATs. Kicker Austin Wanty missed low on extra point attempts following Lakeland's first two scores and Ouimette missed on a pair of passes on subsequent conversion attempts.
On the horizon
The Hodags graduate a class of 10 seniors, but are slated to return a number of starters for 2019, including Martin, Lamers, Peyton Erikson and several other two-way players. Additionally, Rhinelander went 6-2 at the JV level and had only one loss at JV2 heading into last Thursday's finale against Kingsford.
After the game Ferge said "a special season is definitely on the horizon," as long as the team puts in the time this offseason.
"The recipe is really, really simple. It's called get up in the morning, lift weights, make it a routine and lift together, with us, no one else," he said. "We can't have anybody else lifting in a closet or somewhere else. We need everyone lifting together, as a team, through the school, the way it's supposed to be, as a team. We're going to put in the time and make sure it's part of their day, just like brushing their teeth. They need to get in the weight room and make it their goal. The thing about football is that you work, work, work, work, work for those nine games and they become so special when you put in that time."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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