August 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
Hodags hit-and-miss in scrimmage
Hodags hit-and-miss in scrimmage
Rhinelander looked like gangbusters, scoring touchdowns on three of four possessions against Northern Elite in a scrimmage at Mike Webster Stadium. But things did not go as well against Lakeland, as the Thunderbirds scored three times to Rhinelander's one, and the Hodags turned over the football on each of their final two possessions.
"There's a lot of positives to take away, both offensively and defensively, and a lot of things we've got to work on," coach Aaron Kraemer said afterward. "I said to our guys we're going to live and die by our character. We are how we respond. That's who we are. We are how we respond."
Rhinelander doubled up Northern Elite 212-106 in yards gained during their 30-minute session, which simulated a game with the exception of kickoff and punt returns. After trading touchdowns with Lakeland on the first two drives of the second session, the Hodag offense sputtered and Rhinelander's Great Northern Conference rivals found the end zone on their final two possessions, including once off a fumble following a bad snap that set up the T-Bird offense at the Hodag 3.
Rhinelander's two returning all-conference running backs, Cayden Neri and Caleb Olcikas, flashed on Friday. They combined for 189 all-purpose yards and scored all four of Rhinelander's touchdowns in the scrimmage.
It was all Neri in the opening session against Northern Elite. He capped off a five-play drive with a 21-yard scoring run on the Hodags' first possession. He added a 14-yard touchdown on the team's third possession and then went 46 yards on a screen pass for a score later against the Predators.
Olcikas had only two carries for nine yards on the night, but proved to be a weapon in the passing game, catching three passes for 75 yards. That included a leaping 55-yard catch and run for a touchdown against Lakeland after quarterback Jacksen Smith was forced to scramble out of the pocket.
"Those guys always make plays and the have for the last two years," Kraemer said. "It's easy for me, you make sure you get the ball in their hands some way. You saw a little of Caleb in the slot today and Neri getting a steady does of tailback. Caleb will play in our H-back. He'll play in our tailback position too, but it's pretty straightforward."
Lakeland had scoring drives of eight and nine plays against Rhinelander, capped off by passes of 14 and 29 yards. The Hodags got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining in the session looking to tie, but a high snap from center Conner Jensen went over Smith's head out of the pistol. Smith was unable to get on the loose ball and Lakeland pounced on it at the 3, setting up a touchdown pass on the T-Birds' next offensive snap.
The scrimmage ended with Smith throwing an interception on a Hail Mary attempt. Overall, Smith finished 5 of 9 through the air for 159 yards and two scores as the senior gets ready to take over for the graduated Quinn Lamers at quarterback.
"I'm really proud of the way Jacksen has spent these last three weeks, learning the quarterback position, playing that position very, very well, calm and collected," Kraemer said. "He's done a really nice job at that position. I couldn't be more proud of the way he's played the last three weeks. We had a nice long touchdown pass today. He found that and took a hit too. He's just going to keep getting better every week."
Trainer's room
Staying injury-free is first objective in any scrimmage or preseason contest, and the Hodags were unable to do that. Senior Joe Schneider went down with what appeared to be a left knee injury during the team's session against Lakeland.
The Hodags' starting strong safety was hurt after pursuing an outside running play to the boundary and was unable to leave the field under his own power. Kraemer said Schneider's prognosis was unclear.
"Obviously any time you hear a player scream, your heart sinks," he said. "For Joe, unfortunately, that's our starting safety and a guy we look to as an emotional leader. You never like to see anyone get hurt and in a scrimmage, it's just never great. He plays his heart out no matter what he does. He's a great person and a great player and I hope that whatever the prognosis is with his injury, it's quick."
Not only was Schneider Rhinelander's starting safety, he was in the backfield rotation and busted off a 45-yard run against Northern Elite. Schneider was also serving as Rhinelander's place kicker and had gone 3 for 3 on extra point attempts prior to the injury.
Ready for the rematch
Rhinelander and Lakeland meet for real Sept. 3 for the Northwoods Axe game at Mike Webster Stadium and the Thunderbirds served notice that, much like last year's Level 1 playoff game that Rhinelander rallied to win 27-20, they will not be a pushover.
The T-Birds stretched Rhinelander with their air raid passing attack, burning the Hodags on a pair of bubble screens during the first drive and then exposing the middle of the Hodag secondary for their second scoring pass after Schneider left the game with his injury.
Overall, Lakeland was 9 of 16 through the air for 101 yards and three scores against the Hodags.
"They, offensively, have some really good athletes," Kraemer said. "We're going to have to fix our coverage and be able to play better against the screens in three weeks when we play them the next time. I know that we'll get it fixed."
Missing in the middle
Rhinelander was also down projected starting middle linebackers Chad Hunt and Cole Lehman for the scrimmage, but expect to have the two back for this week's opener at Tomahawk. Senior Caleb Shefveland and sophomore Payton Campbell took the majority of the reps at middle linebacker in their place.
Still the preseason
Rhinelander looked to be in preseason form in a number of ways on Friday. In addition to committing three turnovers, the team was penalized seven times for 43 yards in the scrimmage. Two of the infractions were for holding, the rest were on procedure penalties.
Kraemer said it is part of a growing process for a team get accustomed to its new roles.
"We have to fix our mistakes from this week and we have to make sure that, character-wise, we stay above the line, that we choose positive responses instead of reaction and negativity," he said. "We have to figure out what this team is going to be. We have yet to see it. I'm looking for a senior, a junior, a sophomore, somebody to step up and be the guy we need when we need them."
What's next
The Hodags open at Tomahawk this Friday night - the teams' first meeting since Rhinelander defeated the Hatchets 48-6 in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.