August 22, 2019 at 6:40 a.m.
Pigskin preview week 1: Rhinelander at Prescott
With Lamers under center, Hodags head to Prescott
Pigskin preview week 1: Rhinelander at Prescott
Quinn Lamers has earned the starting nod over senior Nathan Kempf in a battle for the quarterback position that extended through the offseason and into the first two weeks of the preseason. Kraemer said he made the decision over the weekend following a scrimmage last Friday at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River.
Lamers completed two of four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in the scrimmage, while Kempf was one of two for 40 yards and a score.
Kraemer said Kempf had the edge going into the start of camp, but Lamers progressed and won the starting position.
"It was very clear that Quinn had picked up the footwork, the changes to the offense, the style," Kraemer said. "He's very quickly bought into the mentality. It's the read progression that we teach. He's bought into that mentality and, to me, he gives us the best chance at the things I want my quarterback to do - protect the football, play smart and then make plays when we need to make those plays."
Kempf will serve as Lamers' backup and will start for the Hodags at linebacker.
"Nathan's taken that role on," Kraemer said. "He's had a great attitude this week and I hope that he continues with that with Quinn."
Last year the Hodags picked up a 28-6 win over the Cardinals. It turned out to be Rhinelander's only win of the season. Prescott, on the other hand, finished 0-9 and allowed at least 28 points in eight of those contest.
Rhinelander's results from a year ago ultimately led to a coaching change and, as Kraemer gets ready for game No. 1, he said his team is in a good place.
"I'm proud of the way our seniors have taken control," he said. "They've taken the onus of being the leaders on the team and setting the standard that we're going to set. Ultimately, the results that we want come from the behaviors that we show. Those behaviors are set by the seniors and the coaches. We have to hold each other accountable."
Other storylines to following heading into Friday night's game.
First game
Kraemer said getting ready for his first game as head coach has been much like the other firsts in his coaching tenure - his first meeting, his first practice and his first scrimmage.
"It's butterflies in your stomach all week, losing a little sleep," he said. "It's watching more film than you're used to prepare. You just want to hit the ground running, hit the ground with your kids, have a successful first game and - at the end of the game - hopefully have more positive plays than not and win to show for it."
Five years ago Chris Ferge picked up a win in his first game as Hodag head coach, a non-conference triumph over Antigo. In fact, opening games have been a strength of the Hodags over the past few years. After failing to win a season opener from 2004-2013, Rhinelander has won three of its past five season openers - the last two coming against Prescott in 2016 and 2018.
Strength vs. strength
Prescott lists four linemen on its roster who check in at 260 pounds or more, including junior Austin Fox (6-0, 260), who was a two-way starter last year. A key matchup tomorrow night could be Prescott's size up front against Rhinelander's speed.
"They have a lot of depth in their offensive and defensive line," Kraemer said. "To me, that's the strength of their team. When you look, defensively, they've got two big defensive tackles that have experience. Their middle linebacker is a person that has experience and they have guys that played against us last year. We're going to have to build on what we did in the scrimmage and get some push on those guys. It's going to be a challenge this week to make sure we can do that. It's going to be strength on strength, to be honest with you. The middle of our offensive line is our strength, and the middle of their defense (is their strength)."
That Hodag offensive line will look to pave the way for Drake Martin and the rest of the Hodag backs. Martin rushed 33 times for 177 yards and three touchdowns in last year's win over the Cardinals.
Getting into space
After showing a lot of Power I against the Hodags last year, Prescott showed some pistol and spread looks during its scrimmage last Friday in Osceola. Senior Riley Anfinson is the leading returning rusher on the team, carrying 48 times for 243 times and two scores last year - one of those scores came against the Hodags. Other key skill position players returning including Lane Budworth, who started six of Prescott's final seven games at quarterback last year, passing for 358 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Anfinson and senior tight end Wyatt Holum are the top two returning receivers on the squad.
"This is a team that is not unlike some of the teams we play in our conference," Kraemer said. "It's a Wing-T team. That's the basis of their offense. Ultimately, when you look at it, they're a buck trap, sweep, type of team. They do want to get it to the edge. They're going to show some pistol spread, some bubble screen, some toss and jet sweep. They want to get the ball to their athletes. That's a great strategy for them. We have to make sure that we get tackles at the line of scrimmage, we can rally to the football and do our job."
On the road again
The biggest variable, and perhaps Prescott's 12th man on Friday night, will be the long road trip. According to Google, it's a 3-hour, 39-minute jaunt from Rhinelander High School to Prescott's Malone Intermediate School, the site of Prescott's football field.
This is the fourth and final meeting between the schools in the non-conference series - Rhinelander will play Tomahawk and Wausau East next year with the addition of Hayward/Lac Courte Oreilles into the GNC - and the home team has won all three of the previous meetings.
Kraemer said the goal will be for the team to have what he calls, "controlled comfortability," as he team heads west to the Minnesota border tomorrow afternoon ahead of the contest.
"I want to make sure they're on the bus and comfortable. It's not unlike resting in your home and resting, or sitting and listening in class the day of a game. They all present different challenges ... What we have to do is ultimately get our minds right and control what we can control. If we can do those things, then we'll be successful.
"Our kids have bought into that mentality. Hopefully it shines through tonight and handle the trip the way I expect us to handle the trip, and we come out with a successful night and the win."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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