September 25, 2019 at 1:12 p.m.
Answering the Bell
After first loss, Hodags look to rebound against Antigo in 85th Bell Game
Answering the Bell
On its heels following the first loss of the season, a 39-14 outcome at Medford in which the Hodags were shut out until the fourth quarter, how Rhinelander responds may ultimately determine the overall success of the 2019 season.
Rhinelander's response will be put to the test Friday night as Antigo comes to town for the 85th playing of the Bell Game.
"Medford hurt, but there were some positives we could take from the end of the game and a lot of adversity that we can learn from," Kraemer said. "If we use that adversity to be the teacher and driver of this next week and realize that just because we had one poor performance it's not the decider of all of our fate, and start taking it back to doing the little things, we'll be successful this week against Antigo."
After a meteoric 4-0 start, things came crashing back to earth for Rhinelander last week in Medford. The ground game was halted, Rhinelander committed three costly turnovers and the Raiders racked up 319 yards on the ground - the most the Hodag defense has allowed all season.
Antigo (2-3) also comes in smarting following a 24-13 home loss to Lakeland that knocked the Robins from the ranks of the conference unbeatens. A Lakeland defense maligned in a 49-7 loss to Medford held the Robins to a scant 112 yards rushing last week. Rhinelander is also 3-0 this season against Wing-T offenses, which Antigo will employ on Friday night.
"Yes, we won the games against those other Wing-T teams, but what are we going to do to make sure we're even better against Antigo? Also, what are we going to do better that we didn't do well against Medford - setting the edge, rallying to the football, 100 percent effort to the ball, tackling, keeping our heads up and running our feet through tackles? Those are the things we want to do better," Kraemer said. "Yes, we've had success, but we can't be complacent with that success. We need to continually sharpen the sword and get better this week."
The Bell Game series is one Antigo has dominated - winning 12 straight and 15 of the last 16 overall - but Rhinelander comes in with the better record and a belief that this could be the year Gene Shepard's Bell finally returns home.
"Around here, we're lucky to have a rivalry game with a couple of close opponents," Kraemer said. "This one, it's been around a lot longer than the Axe Game, as far as being a rivalry game. There are a lot of stories you hear from around town and a lot of mystique around the rivalry. It's a wonderful rivalry between the two teams. The fact that it's Eugene Shepard's Bell, and the hodag surrounds that and the story there, it's an excellent rivalry that we're privileged to be a part of."
Some other storylines to follow heading into tomorrow night's game:
Same old Antigo?
What Antigo will do is not hard to predict. The team is led by Tom Schofield, the grandson of Antigo coaching legend Gordy Schofield who led the Red Robins to three state titles back in the 1970s. The offense is a variation of the Wing-T, and the defense is a classic 5-2 look with a "monster" linebacker that commits to the strong side of the formation.
This year's strain of Antigo's Wing-T is slightly different with quarterback Nevin Cornelius operating out of a pistol two yards behind the line of scrimmage. That has helped to mitigate the quarterback-center exchange problems that were prevalent for Antigo last year.
"From what I understand they've done this because of that and because of who Nevin Cornelius is as an athlete, their quarterback," Kraemer said. "They're going to put him in the pistol, allow him to do some stuff with his feet."
So far two players have carried the load for Antigo - Cornelius (46 carries-234 yards-1 TD) and tailback Isaac Wickerscheim (37-232-2), though fullback Noah Musolff was more active last week against Lakeland as he led the Robins with 50 yards on nine carries.
"It looks like the same motion that they've used, the same type of plays - your power, your blast, your trap and your toss - and the things that Wing-T teams do well with deception and counter action," Kraemer said.
The Robins have also shown a propensity to throw the ball more often than in years past. Through five games, Cornelius is 16 of 37 passing for 277 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions. Tight end Alec Hotchkiss (13 rec., 221 yards, 2 TDs) has been by far Cornelius' favorite target.
After blowout losses to state powers Amherst and Stratford the first two weeks of the season, Antigo defense has settled in. The Robins have allowed only 24 points so far in three conference games, and only 118 yards per game on the ground.
Injury report
Drake Martin is the most notable player who was banged up for Rhinelander last week. He left late in the third quarter of last Friday's loss against Medford and did not return to the game, posting a career-low 16 rushing yards on nine carries. Kraemer said after the game the decision to pull Martin was precautionary, though Martin was seen with a bag of ice on his right wrist following the contest.
Tyler Olson and Nathan Kempf were also shaken up in the loss, but Kraemer classified all three as probable to play in Friday's game.
"There were concerns with Drake with some headaches and his arm," the coach said. "His arm's healed and when I talked to him Sunday he said this is the best he's felt after any game so far in his career. He's feeling good and the other guys are coming around."
Unlucky 13?
Rhinelander is looking to avoid a couple of dubious distinctions in Bell Game history. Antigo is seeking its 13th straight win in the series dating back to 2007, which would tie the longest streak for either team. Antigo won 13 straight Bells from 1961 to 1973.
Also, should Antigo win Friday night, it would be the first time that either team has swept a calendar decade in the series. Rhinelander went 1-9 against Antigo in the 1960s and the 1980s. Rhinelander's only wins in those decades were 1960 and 1989.
"I think the whole (Antigo) community expects them to win," Kraemer said. "So the players come and the give their absolute best. That's what we're going to get from Antigo. We're going to get their absolute best game ... I know, deep down, this is a really good team we are playing against and we've got to be prepared for that."
Rhinelander did beat Antigo in 2014 in a non-conference contest. The Bell was not at stake that night. Antigo holds a 55-27-2 all-time lead in the Bell Game series.
Playoff push
Though both teams have four games remaining in the regular season, Friday night's game could be a pivotal matchup for both team's playoff hopes.
The Robins need one more win to become playoff eligible, but those contests are at Rhinelander, home to Medford next week and at Mosinee Week 9.
Rhinelander, meanwhile, is 1-1 in the GNC and staring at a tough road contest at Mosinee next week before finishing home to Merrill and at Ashland in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Hodags need two more wins to become eligible for their first postseason berth since 2012.
"It's a critical juncture for us because it gets us one step closer to a playoff berth," Kraemer said. "We play a tough game next week against a really good team that's going to want to win and get into the playoffs. Antigo, they need it to get into the playoffs. They know they're gong to play two very difficult teams to end their season. They're going to believe that they're building up to get into the playoffs.
"It's a critical game for both teams - not just for the hardware, but for playoff implications."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.