September 7, 2022 at 11:28 a.m.
Pigskin Preview: Rhinelander at Hayward
After close loss, Hodags look to get over the hump
Pigskin Preview: Rhinelander at Hayward
The Hodags were a couple of plays away from getting their first win of the season last Friday night against Ashland. Instead, an 8-6 loss has Rhinelander playing from behind in the Great Northern Conference.
In losing to Ashland, the Hodags lost an opportunity to make their path to a fourth straight playoff appearance easier. With conference favorites Mosinee and Medford remaining on the schedule, it puts more emphasis on games like tonight's in order to get the three or four conference wins it may take to qualify for the playoffs.
"This is an opportunity for us to show a little resolve, keep solidifying the things that we solidified last week and make them even more solid, make sure we're prepared to play this team and keep fighting the fight," Hodag head coach Aaron Kraemer said.
Though it did not result in a win, Rhinelander showed signs of life on both sides of the football against Ashland. Offensively, Payton Campbell rushed for a season-high 137 yards and added another 24 in the passing game. Defensively, Rhinelander held Ashland under 300 yards of offense and only one score, after getting blown out a week earlier at Denmark.
"It's unfortunate we didn't make the plays we needed to win," Kraemer said. "You go out with the one goal of winning the game that you're playing but, at the same time, when the lessons are becoming a little bit shorter and becoming easier to digest and we know what we have to accomplish for the next week to get better, it makes things for our kids understandable."
Rhinelander will face a young Hayward team that burst on to the scene last week in a 36-0 victory over Antigo. The Hurricanes started only two seniors last week but dominated the contest. It was Hayward's first win after getting beat by a combined 47-6 in the first two weeks of the season
"They are young but they've already figured it out and got their first win," Kraemer said. "They're riding in with confidence. We've got to come in and weather the storm early. It's a trip, so we've got to handle the trip, and then play our best brand of football like we know we can."
Here are five storylines entering tonight's game.
Back to basics
With a favorable running matchup last week against Ashland and key injuries at skill positions, the Hodags were almost compelled to revert their offense back to its pre-2022 roots. Though Rhinelander still operated out of the pistol, it reverted back to 21 personnel with two running backs and one tight end after primarily running spread formations out of 10 or 11 personnel the first two weeks of the season.
Campbell proved to be the workhorse for the Hodags in that scheme, totaling 34 touches between carries and receptions.
Kraemer said the Hodags will look to stay in the pro-pistol look this week, while looking to take some of the workload off Campbell and incorporating more elements that were staples of the offense the last three seasons.
"We have gone back to our roots, what has made Hodag football over the last four years successful, he said. "You saw that on Friday. Now it's just putting the big plays in there and getting contributions from other players to make sure Payton is protected."
Injury report
Those contributions still may need to come from underclassmen, considering where the Hodags were at on the injury front. Brendon Eckrich (groin) is questionable for tonight, after missing last week's contest due to injury. If he cannot go, the Hodags may have only two seniors - fullback Carter Krueger and tight end Finn Tulowitzky starting at the skill positions.
Rhinelander will also run with sophomore Reid Schultz at left tack for a second straight week with junior starter Kaeden Pillar (arm) expected to miss a second straight contest.
"There are guys that can step up and make those plays and you're noticing those guys are juniors and sophomores, which gives us a lot of hope for the future, but we need them to be good, now," Kraemer said. "We're asking them to figure it out. The sophomores, we're asking them not to be sophomores anymore, to age and play varsity football. The JV guys from last year, we're asking them to grow up too, really, really quick."
Developing Hurricanes
Hayward can relate to being young on both sides of the ball. Only one senior - running back Kendall Miller - started for the Hurricanes on offense last week. Hayward had only two senior starters on defense - Miller and fellow linebacker Brody McConnell.
"When you look at them on film, one of the things you notice is they are talented and that they are young, so they're going to be good for years to come," Kraemer said.
Hayward offense
Miller had a splash play in the running game against Antigo, a 74-yard carry on Hayward's first offensive snap that set up a touchdown run a few plays later.
However, last week's game served as a coming out party for quarterback Alex Depew. The 6-4 sophomore threw for a pair of touchdowns and ran for two more as Hayward steadily pulled away from an over-matched Antigo team.
Even though Depew has thrown for 317 yards and three touchdowns over the first three weeks, Hayward is still primarily a run team with Miller (5.9. yards per carry) and Brock Chucka (4.3 ypc) leading the way on the ground. The Hurricanes have run on roughly 62% of their offensive snaps so far.
"They like to spread to run," Kraemer said. "They like the window dressing to widen you out in order to run the ball up inside. They've got some big kids in there, including their quarterback, and one thing I noticed is that he does run. We're going to have to be disciplined in the run game to account for him."
Micah Bacon leads Hayward with 126 yards and two touchdowns receiving. That included a 59-yarder from Depew late in the first half last Friday against Antigo.
Gannon Mohr and Xzavier Stojek have each caught nine passes, though the majority of Stojek's touches have been from a jet-motion action.
Kraemer said Hayward will force Rhinelander to defense from sideline to sideline and tackle in the open field.
"If we can make the first tackle and put the guy down on our terms, then we'll be successful," he said. "That's what we're going to focus on this week, is making those open field tackles, putting them down in space and moving laterally to defend what they want to do, which is ultimately run the power up inside and then jet sweep when you get used to that power."
Hayward defense
The Hurricanes have been opportunistic on defense, with five takeaways already this year. Despite the 1-2 record, nobody has scored more than 26 points in against Hayward in their first three contest.
Defensive end Luke Snider has been particularly disruptive, leading the Hurricanes with 18 tackles - including four tackles for loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
"They have four big guys up front, two linebackers that flow really well and a safety over the top that makes plays too," Kraemer said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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