September 3, 2022 at 6:27 a.m.
Ashland edges Hodags in dome's varsity debut
Ashland edges Hodags in dome's varsity debut
The Hodag Dome was used for the first time for a varsity football game, giving the Hodags and the Ashland Oredockers a place to play the second half of their contest after thunderstorms rolled into the Northwoods. However, Rhinelander was unable to find any points in the second half and settled for an 8-6 loss to the Oredockers in the Great Northern Conference opener.
The Hodags trailed by two after both teams scored late in the first half. Ashland's ability to convert a two-point try ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
The teams were just about to begin the second half when the referees spotted lightning in the northwestern sky from an approaching cold front. The teams and fans were evacuated into the dome for safety and soon, once it became apparent that there would be a lengthy delay, the decision was made to finish the game on the full-sized turf field inside the 128,000 square-foot facility.
"We have the best facilities in the state and it was on show tonight. It was pretty darn cool," Hodag coach Aaron Kraemer said.
Many of the logistics for playing inside were set up in advance, with the forecast calling for a strong likelihood of evening storms. Even so, everyone had to improvise a bit. A single, portable goalpost was set up in the west end zone for any potential field goal or extra point attempts. There was a small, portable scoreboard in the northwest corner of the field and it was standing-room only for the fans who stuck around.
Yet, unlike other teams that had to wait out weather delays in excess of two hours - as was the case in Friday night in Medford - Rhinelander and Ashland were able to resume play following a roughly 25-minute stoppage.
"The atmosphere in here was electric. It was cool to have everybody come back in here, the students down on the other end," Kraemer said. "There are obviously things that are difficult. You can't really see the clock from where we were standing, but I'm not complaining. That was a really fun atmosphere. It sucks we weren't able to get it done, but that was a helluva football game."
Both teams made a concerted effort to keep the game moving, sticking to the ground game. Ashland's Ethan Petersen rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries while Rhinelander's Payton Campbell carried 31 times for 137 yards and a score.
Both scores came late in the first half. Petersen busted off a 45-yard run down the left sideline to give Ashland the lead with 4:02 remaining in the second quarter. Laken Villaverde was able to find the end zone on the two-point try on a second effort.
"We missed a tackle. We didn't get to the sideline to get him out of bounds," Kraemer said of Petersen's score. "It was kind of a low-effort play and they scored on it. And two points ends up being a factor. It just goes to show you that every single play counts."
Rhinelander responded with its best drive of the night, a nine-play, 59-yard march that resulted in a Campbell one-yard score with 42 seconds left before the break. Campbell was stopped on a pass in the flat on the two-point try, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
The Hodags had a chance to take the lead on their first drive of the second half as Truman Lamers returned a kickoff to the Ashland 33. Rhinelander marched inside the Oredockers' 10 on a drive that featured seven straight runs by Campbell. Rhinelander elected to go for it on fourth-and-3 from the 7 and Campbell was stopped two yards short on a run off right guard.
Though Rhinelander's defense allowed Ashland to rush for 6.1 yards per carry, they came up big on a couple of occasions in the second half. They stopped Petersen inches short of a first down at the Hodag 30 on a fourth-down pass play.
Then, needing a goal-line stand to have any chance of a comeback, they denied Hunter Chenier on fourth-and-goal from the 2 with 3:28 remaining.
"Defensively, that was the best game that obviously I've coached so far in my young defensive career and I'm really proud of the way to play," Kraemer said.
Rhinelander could only advance the ball to its 20, following the goal-line stand. Quarterback James Heck was stopped on a fourth-down scramble with 1:40 remaining. Ashland was able to run out the clock from there to earn the win.
Trainer's room
Injuries were once again a big story for the Hodags. Indications Friday were the knee injury that Kaleb Winter suffered in Week 2 at Denmark is serious enough to sideline him for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, the Hodags were without starting wide receiver Brendon Eckrich (groin) and starting tackle Kaeden Pillar (arm), with Pillar being hurt during the week of practice.
Kraemer said the key injuries to starters for the Hodags to change their offensive game plan.
"We had a good week of practice throwing screens, getting out to the outside. We knew they were going to pack it in so we were going to widen it out and get it to the edge," he said. "We had a few key injuries this week during practice that hurt us. Those guys, I know it's killing them not to be out there playing with their teammates, especially our seniors, but the change of game plan, it worked out, I thought. We moved the ball well, just didn't put it in the end zone in opportunities that we had."
The injury woes continued early in the fourth quarter when starting guard Owen Kurtz appeared to cramp and left the contest. He did not return to the game. Rhinelander's offense managed only one first down after Kurtz left the game.
Statbook
Campbell added 24 yards on three receptions for the Hodags as Heck was 5 of 12 passing for 47 yards in the contest.
Villaverde had 56 yards on 12 carries for the Oredockers while Chenier had 10 carries for 32 yards. Ty O'Bey, who sat out the first offensive series for Ashland, was 2 of 6 passing for 17 yards and an interception, which came as Landon Bates picked off a deflected pass late in the first half.
Up next
Rhinelander (0-3, 0-1 Great Northern) travels to Hayward tonight. The Hurricanes defeated Antigo 36-0 in Week 3 for their first win of the season.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected]
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