August 12, 2021 at 10:39 a.m.
Team preview: RHS football
Hodags enter 2021 with GNC title aspirations
Team preview: RHS football
The team is coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1973 and 1974, back-to-back Bell Game victories over Antigo for the first time since winning three straight from 1998-2000 and the first two playoff victories in program history.
The Hodags have amassed 14 wins in Aaron Kraemer's first two seasons as head coach after winning a combined 14 games in the eight prior seasons. Yet there's one major box still left unchecked - the team's first conference title since 1989.
Rhinelander had a shot last year, falling to Medford 24-7 in the final game of the regular season. Though the Hodags return only four all-Great Northern Conference players from that squad, the team is confident it has the talent - and more importantly the depth - to avenge its lone loss from a season ago and finish one position better in the GNC.
"I think we are closing the gap, but they are a very good team, a well-coached team," Kraemer said. "They have some pieces coming back from last year that are very talented and, defensively, they've always been tough.
"We're making ground now. Now the last step is to believe that we can do it and go out and put ourselves in position."
The Hodags and Raiders will meet in Medford for a Week 5 game Sept. 17. There will be plenty of football to be played before and after to determine if Rhinelander can reach its goal of a conference championship, but that the words "Rhinelander" and "conference championship" are mentioned together in the same sentence speaks volumes about the team's resurgence over the past couple of seasons.
"There's a standard that's set because of the success we've had in the last couple years. I think it's a good place to be," Kraemer said. "Now it's time to live up to expectation that we've set for ourselves and the standard we've set for ourselves over the last couple of years."
Though Rhinelander returns only eight starters from last year's team, that number belies the depth of this year's squad - which features 13 seniors.
"Almost all of these guys that are seniors this year contributed in some way last year on our varsity team to the success that we had," Kraemer said. "It seemed the same way last year with the senior class, they played bit parts as juniors but then they had an opportunity to lead as seniors. You saw how that paid off for us last year with the guys who stepped up."
The offense has a great foundation, returning a pair of all-conference running backs in seniors Cayden Neri and Caleb Olcikas. The two combined to rush for 1,218 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while averaging just more than five yards per carry.
"They're very good athletes and very good backs," Kraemer said. "Our job offensively is to try to get them the ball as much as we can. They're dynamic in space."
The two will be joined in the backfield by fellow seniors Joe Schneider and Cole Lehman, as well as junior Kaleb Winter. The three will likely platoon in the H-back position vacated by graduated senior Walker Hartman - especially considering that both Schneider and Lehman will be also counted on to produce on the defensive side of the football.
Senior Joe Fugle is the only returning all-conference lineman for the Hodags, but the line also has a key returnee in junior center Conner Jensen, who Kraemer said was having an all-conference-caliber season as sophomore before missing the final four games due to a hand injury.
Sophomore Owen Kurtz has stood out in camp with both his strength and athleticism. Senior Caleb Shefveland is back after stepping in for Jensen at the end of last season and there are plenty of other of big bodies vying to fill out the offensive line rotation. The Hodags feel they have enough depth on the line , that they made the call to move senior Brock Snyder out to tight end this year.
The unknown, offensively, going into the season is how the passing game will develop. Senior Jacksen Smith has emerged as the team's starting quarterback, after serving as Quinn Lamers' backup last season. Expect the Hodags to operate less out of the pistol and more under center this year but, otherwise, Kraemer said the offense will remain mostly unchanged.
Smith went 9 of 12 for 102 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's Family Day practice, and Kraemer said Smith brings with him the vibe of a veteran leader.
"Jacksen's strength is his calming presence," Kraemer said. "When you talk to him, when he's around, when he's in the huddle, he's a calming presence for the offense and one that, with some young guys that need a little bit of love and care, he does a really nice job with that. As he grows and learns the offense, I think things are going to get better and better as the year goes on."
Smith will be throwing to an entirely different group of wide receivers and tight ends than Lamers had a season ago.
That includes two players with state track pedigrees in seniors Cole Worrall and Jaden Beske, who joins his twin brother Arik on the squad, after running cross country the last two falls. Finn Tulowitzky, the younger brother of Rhinelander's No. 2 receiver last year Jacques Tulowitzky, flashed at tight end during last Saturday's Family Day practice, with two grabs for 22 yards.
Defensively, Rhinelander brings back four of its top seven tacklers from last year - all of whom are expected to play a major role for a team that had the No. 2 scoring defense in the conference a season ago.
Senior inside linebacker Chad Hunt will lead the group after posting team highs in total tackles (73), tackles for loss (7) and forced fumbles (2) last year en route to first-team All-GNC honors.
"I think teams are going to be game planning for him, which means the rest of the guys are going to have to step up for him and make sure they make plays," Kraemer said.
The outside linebackers and safeties are key positions in the Hodags' base 3-4 defense. Schneider (29 tackles, 1 interception) and Olcikas (28 tackles, 2 TFL) will anchor the secondary while Fugle (26 tackles, 3 TFL) returns as a second-team All-GNC outside linebacker.
The Hodags will have to replace all-state defensive back Jackson Labs and his seven interceptions in the secondary. Kraemer said Smith will see time at corner, as he did last year, along with a few of the same guys in the mix at receiver - Worrall and the Beskes.
Snyder, Kurtz, Jensen, AJ Bergman, Kaden Chillemi and Jayden Beck are among those who saw reps at defensive line in last Saturday's practice.
Kraemer said he expects defense, led by coordinator Gary Zarda, to be a strength this year.
"In watching the first week of practice, I can tell you that I think we have a really, really great defense that's going to step up to the plate," he said. "The team might be different this year than it was last year, but I think that all of those guys with the experience that they got last year, they're going to contribute in different ways."
As far as the GNC race, Kraemer said don't chalk it up as a two-horse race just yet. Medford has only two All-GNC players returning, but they are offensive player of the year Aiden Gardner and quarterback Logan Baumgartner. Mosinee matches Rhinelander with four returning all-conference players and every other team brings back one all-conference player from last season.
"What I see from our conference is a competitive one, one that every single week any team can win, so our guys have to be prepared for that," he said.
The Hodags get their first test against another team tonight as they host Lakeland and Northern Elite in a scrimmage at Mike Webster Stadium. The team kicks off the season with a non-conference contest on the road against Tomahawk Aug. 20 and will open the GNC schedule at home against Lakeland in the sixth playing of the Axe Game Sept. 3. The 87th annual Bell Game against Antigo will be played Sept. 24, coinciding with Rhinelander's homecoming.
The team has yet to find a replacement Week 2 non-conference opponent after Wausau East canceled its varsity season due to low numbers.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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